[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4675-4681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
 COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN 
                            LUTHER KING, JR.

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1061) commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and encouraging people of 
the United States to pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr., and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1061

       Whereas 40 years ago on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther 
     King, Jr., the moral leader of America, was taken from us all 
     too soon by an assassin's bullet, while standing on the 
     balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was 
     to lead sanitation workers in protest against low wages and 
     intolerable working conditions;
       Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while just one man, 
     changed America forever in a few short years through his 
     preaching of nonviolence and passive resistance;
       Whereas Dr. King was the preeminent civil rights advocate 
     of his time, leading the civil rights movement in the United 
     States during the 1950s and 1960s and earning world-wide 
     recognition as an eloquent and articulate spokesperson for 
     equality;
       Whereas Dr. King dedicated his life to securing the 
     fundamental principles of the United States of liberty and 
     justice for all United States citizens;
       Whereas Dr. King was a champion of nonviolence who 
     fervently advocated nonviolent resistance as the strategy to 
     end segregation and racial discrimination in America, and in 
     1964, at age 35, he became the youngest man to be awarded the 
     Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his efforts;
       Whereas through his work and reliance on nonviolent 
     protest, Dr. King was instrumental in the passage of the 
     Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
       Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., broke down walls of 
     racial segregation and racial discrimination in places of 
     public accommodation;
       Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., opened doors to the 
     participation of all Americans in the political process;
       Whereas the work of Dr. King created a basis of 
     understanding and respect and helped communities, and the 
     United States as a whole, to act cooperatively and 
     courageously to restore tolerance, justice, and equality 
     between people;
       Whereas in the face of hatred and violence, Dr. King 
     preached a doctrine of nonviolence and civil disobedience to 
     combat segregation, discrimination, and racial injustice, and 
     believed that people have the moral capacity to care for 
     other people;
       Whereas Dr. King awakened the conscience and consciousness 
     of the United States and used his message of hope to bring 
     people together to build the ``Beloved Community'', a 
     community of justice, at peace with itself;
       Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through his 
     persistence, raw courage, and faith brought about a 
     nonviolent revolution in America without firing a single 
     bullet; and
       Whereas our country and our society are better because of 
     what he did and what he said: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourages all 
     Americans to--
       (1) pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin 
     Luther King, Jr., on this, the 40th anniversary of his death;
       (2) commemorate the legacy of Dr. King, so that, as Dr. 
     King hoped, ``one day this Nation will rise up and live out 
     the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be 
     self-evident; that all men are created equal''; and
       (3) remember the message of Dr. King and rededicate 
     themselves to Dr. King's goal of a free and just United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONYERS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 
1061.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. I thank the Speaker, and I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, this Friday, April 4, will mark 
the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination in 
1968.
  I note that, once again, our distinguished colleague from Georgia, 
John Lewis, has introduced a bipartisan House Resolution calling upon 
all Americans, on this anniversary, to pause and remember the life and 
legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I'd like to acknowledge the 
many members of the Judiciary Committee supporting this resolution, 
Lamar Smith, Gerald Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Bobby Scott, Keith Ellison, 
Steve Cohen and others.

[[Page 4676]]

  Dr. King was not only our greatest civil rights leader, but he was 
also the person that personally has given me the political, 
philosophical undergirding to attempt to transfer his belief system 
into some of the objectives of the United States through the Congress. 
What a leader he was.
  I shall be in Memphis this Friday celebrating, with the distinguished 
gentleman from New York, Harry Bellefonte, and many others, the work 
that he has done in trying to bring justice, understanding, full 
employment, an economic system, and end the war in this country and in 
this world.
  He addressed, on the night before his assassination, the sanitation 
workers in Memphis at the Mason Temple. And I don't know about you, but 
it seemed to me that he had a premonition that he was spending the last 
days of his life on earth in this cause. He seemed to have projected 
his understanding of how fleeting his life may have been.
  Of course, I'm also connected to Dr. King by his family, Coretta 
Scott King and their children, and of course, the unbelievably 
courageous Mrs. Rosa Parks, who later came to Detroit and honored my 
office by working there for many, many years.
  And so I'm very pleased to join in with this re-examination and 
remembrance of our great leader, to me, one of the greatest leaders of 
the 20th century. And so I'm proud to stand before you as the chairman 
of the Judiciary to bring this resolution forward.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  This bill commemorates the 40th anniversary of the tragic 
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was the leader of 
a historic, nonviolent revolution in the U.S. Over the course of his 
life he fought for equal justice and led the Nation towards racial 
harmony.
  While advancing this great movement, Dr. King's home was bombed, and 
he was subjected to relentless personal and physical abuse. Despite 
this violence, Dr. King responded in peace with strong conviction and 
sound reason. And as a preacher, Dr. King's religious beliefs were 
essential to the success of his nonviolent efforts. It is doubtful that 
such a long and enduring movement of peace could have survived in the 
face of such violence without the power of religious inspiration behind 
it.
  From 1957 to 1968, Dr. King traveled over 6 million miles and spoke 
over 2,500 times about justice and equal freedom under the law.
  On August 28, 1963, Dr. King led a peaceful march of 250,000 people 
through the streets of Washington, DC. And it is here, in this city, 
where he delivered a speech that spoke for all Americans, regardless of 
the color of their skin. In his ``I Have a Dream'' speech, Dr. King 
called the march the ``greatest demonstration for freedom in the 
history of our nation,'' and he was right.
  ``I have a dream,'' he said, ``that my four little children will one 
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of 
their skin, but by the content of their character.''
  Dr. King not only lived the American dream, but he opened that same 
door of opportunity for millions of Americans. He lived for the causes 
of justice and equality.
  On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his 
hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was assassinated. But a 
single vicious act could not extinguish Dr. King's legacy, which 
endures to this day. And America is a better, freer Nation because of 
his legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield as much time as 
he may consume to the one person in the House of Representatives and 
the United States Senate that knew Martin King, Jr., better than any of 
us here. He's a distinguished civil rights leader in his own right, but 
he worked closely with Dr. King and the SCLC and SNCC and other civil 
rights organizations. I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from 
Georgia, John Lewis, for as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and my 
colleague, Chairman Conyers, for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is fitting and appropriate that we pause, as 
a Nation and as a people, to remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr., a man who changed America forever.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee 
on April 4, 1968. He had emerged as a leader, not just for a people, 
but for a Nation. His leadership and commitment to a truly interracial 
democracy played a key role in ending legal segregation in America. He 
led the first major nonviolent campaign in modern America when he 
emerged as the leader of the Montgomery bus boycott that lasted 381 
days.
  He inspired thousands and thousands of people to follow the way of 
nonviolence. In doing so, he inspired other movements and had an effect 
on so many young people and some not so young.
  Just think, a few short years ago, in America, there were signs that 
said, ``White women, Colored women,'' ``White men, Colored men,'' 
``White waiting, Colored waiting.'' There was segregation in public 
accommodations and transportation. Men and women of color could not 
even register to vote.
  Dr. King created a climate, created an environment that the power of 
the courts, the power of Congress, and the President of the United 
States couldn't look the other way; they couldn't say no.
  In his short life, he led the American people on a journey that is 
ongoing even today.
  Mr. Speaker, I will never forget coming to Washington with him in 
early June, 1963. We met with President Kennedy and other leaders in 
his administration. Dr. King informed the President that there was a 
crisis in our country and that he had to act.
  Later, Dr. King came back to Washington to speak and to march on 
Washington. This time he was able to bring 250,000 Americans, Black and 
White, and people of all faiths and backgrounds. On that day, he 
transformed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a modern-day pulpit. 
On that day, he shared his dream of the Beloved Community, a truly 
interracial democracy.
  I can still hear him saying, ``I have a dream today, a dream deeply 
rooted in the American dream.''
  Mr. Speaker, today we encourage all citizens, especially our young 
people, to take time to reflect on the teachings and the leadership of 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Our Nation is a better place, and we are a 
better people because of him.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other speakers at 
this time. I will yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
  Mr. CONYERS. I thank the gentleman from Texas, the ranking member, 
Mr. Smith.
  I would like now to recognize Steve Cohen, our distinguished 
colleague from Memphis, Tennessee, for 2 minutes.
  Mr. COHEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  This Friday, our Nation will recognize the 40th anniversary of a most 
infamous day in our country's history, the assassination of the great 
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
  It's impossible to speak about Dr. King without remembering his 
eloquence and powerful oratory. Dr. King brought his brilliant mind and 
God-given speech to bear against mighty forces, forces which were 
entrenched and interwoven so powerfully in the very fabric of our 
country that the task to overcome seemed nearly impossible. But he was 
not deterred. And even from the distance of 40 years, what Martin 
Luther King, Jr., accomplished in his short number of years on this 
earth is awe-inspiring. He started a march to justice that he still 
inspires and which moves toward fulfillment.
  An assassin's shot rang out in Memphis, silencing a most beautiful 
and eloquent man, but it didn't silence his dream. He was a man who 
worked with Bayard Rustin to take Gandhi's principles of nonviolence 
and change a

[[Page 4677]]

country through different forms of civil disobedience that had not been 
seen in this country successfully.
  He brought a march to Washington that's still the greatest march 
known to this day, a collection of individuals demanding a change of 
course for this country. And he changed this country and changed, his 
force made this Congress and the President of the United States, at 
that time, Lyndon Johnson, change its course and bring about great 
civil rights legislation.
  A man whose life and death continues to define our country and our 
world, his dream survives his death, and will continue to survive as 
long as we know what is good and just about our Nation.
  The man could be killed, but not the dream. The dream lives in each 
of us. Though the fires of progress sometimes seem to dwindle to 
embers, each time we declare that all people are equal, each time we 
fight against discrimination and intolerance, and each time we speak 
truth to power, each time we do those things we fan the flame of Martin 
Luther King's dream and his purpose and his passion lives on in us.
  Martin Luther King spoke truth to power, and that is a great thing.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased now to recognize the 
distinguished gentleman from Georgia, Mr. David Scott, and I recognize 
him for 3 minutes.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Thank you, Chairman Conyers. It's so good to be 
here with my good friend Mr. Lewis from Georgia and Mr. Cohen from 
Tennessee.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we gather to pay tribute and to recognize an 
extraordinary life on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, in the book of Genesis in the 37th chapter, in the 19th 
verse, it says these words: Lo, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay 
him and then we shall see what will become of his dream.
  I think that is a most fitting way to enter my remarks this afternoon 
about Dr. King, for his was truly a dream, but that dream was built on 
three strong pillars. One was public accommodations. The other was 
voting rights. But the other, and perhaps the tougher, was economic 
rights, how do we get the lever to make the dream a reality. Dr. King 
knew full well it didn't matter if we could sit anywhere on the bus if 
we don't have money to get on the bus. It doesn't matter if we could 
live anywhere we wanted if we didn't have money to buy the house and to 
keep the house.
  So, as we reflect today on that economic right, it is so fitting that 
so much is still to be done. For as we look at the front page of the 
New York Times yesterday, we find that there are more people who are on 
food stamps percentage-wise in this country than 40 years ago when Dr. 
King died. What has happened to his dream after he was slain?
  It's so fitting that if we start to think for a moment what Dr. King 
was doing in those moments and hours before his death. He was grappling 
with the economic question, moving back and forward from Washington, 
D.C., to Atlanta, Georgia, to Memphis, dealing with the poor people's 
campaign, the war on poverty, and, most significantly, dealing with the 
most basic of economic rights, a livable wage for jobs for the 
sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee.
  And so he knew that the work had not been done. His prophetic words, 
as Chairman Conyers referred, it's almost as if he was preaching his 
own funeral when he said he had reached the mountaintop and had looked 
over and seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I 
want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised 
land. And all the threats that were on his life, it was as if he knew 
that the bullet in 24 hours was out there waiting for him.
  And he said in his immortal words: I fear no man, for mine eyes have 
seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
  So, as we gather here, let us understand that that dream is still not 
the reality; although the pillars that he planted, part of them are. It 
is the tough bucket of the economic issues that we are grappling with 
on the floor of this House of Representatives as we speak, keeping 
people in their homes, getting people so they can work and have 
employment and jobs, opening up the economic system so that people will 
have businesses and participate in a livable way.
  So, as we reflect, let us remember those words from Genesis: Lo, here 
cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him and then we shall see what will 
become of his dream.
  We in this House of Representatives can make that dream a reality by 
finishing that final plank, the economic plank.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased now to recognize the gentleman 
from Maryland, the Honorable Elijah Cummings, who is not only an 
attorney but a person of deep religious persuasions, a leader in the 
church. He has worked continually in the area of civil rights, voter 
activity, and I yield him as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for 
yielding, and I associate myself with the words that have already been 
spoken by all of my colleagues.
  My last colleague who spoke, I just want Mr. Scott, as I listened to 
him I could not help but think about the first chapter of Habakkuk, 
fifth verse, and in that verse it says that God says that He will do 
miracles and He will do it during our time, and if He were to tell us 
what those miracles would be, we would not believe Him.
  I rise in support of this resolution, sponsored by the distinguished 
gentleman from Georgia, commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 
King on the 40th anniversary of his assassination.
  Mr. Speaker, young Americans of this time are the third generation to 
come of age since Representative John Lewis and other brave young 
Americans worked with Dr. King to lead America from inequity towards 
justice and from violence toward a more peace-filled world.
  We have been inspired and heartened to witness the young people of 
our time engaged in the democratic process this year like no other. 
They are renewing Dr. King's message and are crying out to us in Dr. 
King's voice, through the often harsh realities of their lives.
  I must submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that whatever their ethnic 
backgrounds may be, far too many of these idealistic young Americans 
are being subjected to the most crippling segregation of all, the 
segregation from opportunity that is the inevitable result of poverty. 
I've often said that our children are the living messages we send to a 
future we will never see.
  And Mr. Speaker, this new, energized, and determined generation is 
also challenging the foreign policies of this great Nation, even as Dr. 
King challenged American foreign policy four decades ago.
  In this spirit, Mr. Speaker, I join Representative Lewis, a true 
American hero who put his own life and safety on the line for these 
American principles, and I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting 
this resolution. In doing so, we honor Dr. King and his legacy to 
America through our actions, as well as through our words.
  And as it was said in Habakkuk, miracles will happen. The question is 
whether we will believe in them and do as Dr. King did. Dr. King looked 
out, and he was not blinded by what he saw, but he saw things that 
others did not see, but more significantly, he took his vision and put 
it in the form of a mission and accomplished much.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it's now my high privilege to recognize the 
majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) who many years 
ago had me bring to one of his meetings Rosa Parks, and that was the 
beginning of a very important relationship between Mrs. Parks and Steny 
Hoyer and myself.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend for yielding.
  John Conyers is a distinguished leader of the civil rights movement, 
whose leadership and commitment and tenacity and steadfastness led to 
declaration of a holiday, a holy day in

[[Page 4678]]

many respects, a day of recommitment when we remember the life, legacy, 
and teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr. I did not know Dr. King. I met 
him but didn't know him.
  But I have known John Conyers and I have known John Lewis, and I know 
them both and they are giants themselves. John Lewis, of course, is the 
sponsor of this resolution, who represents Atlanta, who came from 
Alabama, who marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, confronted by 
troops who wanted to stop him from doing what is basic to the United 
States of America, the right of every citizen to express their view on 
how their government ought to be peopled and run, the right to vote.
  As a result of his courage, the leadership of Dr. King and John 
Conyers and so many others, we passed a Voting Rights Act. I am honored 
to stand with these two giants.
  I understand that Mr. Smith, the ranking member of the committee, 
helped bring this bill to the floor.
  I am of that generation that remembers the dark day in April of 1968, 
followed too closely by another dark day on June 6, just two-and-some-
odd months later.
  Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago this Friday, Martin Luther King, Jr., was 
murdered. He was an American prophet. He called us to love justice, to 
love our brothers and sisters of every color, of every race, of every 
nationality, of every religion, of every gender. He spoke the truth, 
but on April 4, 1968, he was taken from us. But his lesson was not 
taken from us nor his example.
  In this flawed and fallen world, hate and rage and violence will have 
their day, but if we can find even a sliver of good in that crime, it 
must be this: Dr. King died on a balcony, an open place, a public 
place. Dr. King showed us, he proved with his own body, that a just 
cause is worth dying for, as our Founding Fathers had done, as frankly, 
in my religion, Jesus did.
  It is worth living for, too, he showed us. This resolution, even 
though I will vote for it wholeheartedly, even though I trust it will 
pass unanimously, even though it's offered by my good friend John 
Lewis, who ``toiled, and wrought, and thought'' with Dr. King, is just 
words on paper, unless we match it with the resolve of our lives. That 
is what Dr. King wanted us to do.
  Our conduct, our actions, are the only honors we have worth giving. 
These words on paper take on value when, and only when, they spur us 
toward what Dr. King called ``a committed life.''
  After the autopsy, which showed that his 39-year-old body held the 
strained and tired heart of an elderly man; after two brown mules 
pulled his casket in a wooden cart through the streets of Atlanta; 
after tens of thousands assembled to put him to rest, Dr. King spoke at 
his own funeral.
  The loudspeakers played a tape of one of his old sermons, and these 
were the words that echoed through the Ebenezer Baptist Church. ``I 
don't want a long funeral. I'd like somebody to mention that day that 
Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd 
like for somebody to say that day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day that I tried to be 
right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I 
did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day 
that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.''
  We can say all of it, with truth, about Martin Luther King, Jr., a 
great American, a great leader, a great man and, yes, a citizen 
revered, respected, and honored by the world, for he saw himself not 
just as an American, proud though he was of this Nation's promise, but 
also he saw himself as a part of all mankind.
  May we do our best to live by his example as we remember the sad day 
when his body was taken from us, but they could not take his lessons.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 1061,``Observing the 40th anniversary of the assassination 
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and encouraging the people of the United 
States to pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. and for other purposes,'' introduced by my distinguished 
colleague from Georgia, Representative John Lewis. This praiseworthy 
legislation will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's 
assassination by expanding his legacy and honoring his paradigm of 
nonviolence, courage, compassion, dignity, and public service.
   On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while on 
the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In remembering 
the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination, we should take a 
moment to reflect upon the purpose for which Dr. King and other civil 
rights pioneers so resiliently fought. Through his philosophical words 
and fortified stance against racial injustice, Dr. King provided a road 
map for all to unite and share in the prosperity of this great 
democracy. While we acknowledge that our Nation has come a long way, 
Dr. King's dream has yet to be realized in its entirety. Martin Luther 
King's contributions to our history place him in this unparalleled 
position. It is Dr. King who represents the best in all of us and it is 
in his memory that we continue to devote ourselves to his vision.
   In his short life, Martin Luther King was instrumental in helping us 
realize and rectify those unspeakable wrongs which tarnished the name 
of America. African Americans needed a Martin Luther King, but above 
all, America needed him. The significant qualities of this special man 
cannot be underestimated nor taken for granted. Within a span of 13 
years, from 1955 to his death in 1968, he was able to expound, expose, 
and extricate America from many wrongs. Dr. King's inspiring words 
filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing 
to become a country that truly lived by its dignified principles. And 
so we memorialize this man of action, who put his life on the line for 
freedom and justice every day.
   Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's ``I Have a Dream'' Speech, 
delivered on August 28, 1963, was a clarion call to each citizen of 
this great Nation that we still hear today. His request was simply and 
eloquently conveyed--he challenged America to live up to the true 
meaning of its creed, to make real the words written in its Declaration 
of Independence and to have a place in this Nation's Bill of Rights. It 
is with this goal in mind that we strive to provide equal opportunity 
to all.
   Dr. King spoke about his contentment with the end of his mortal life 
in his last speech, ``I've Been to the Mountaintop,'' on April 3, 1968 
at Mason Temple. Even then he lifted up the value of service as the 
hallmark of a full life and reiterated the importance of continuing the 
struggle for human rights. ``We've got some difficult days ahead. But 
it doesn't matter with me now because I've been to the mountaintop.'' 
We must continue to pay homage to the valor of a man who endured 
harassment, embarrassment, beatings, and bombings. We commemorate the 
man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who 
knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on 
marching and protesting and organizing anyway. Dr. King's vision of 
equality under the law should never lose its vigor despite times of 
unevenness in our equality. For without that vision--without that 
dream--we can never continue to improve on the human condition.
   During these difficult days when the United States is bogged down in 
a misguided and mismanaged war in Iraq, which has claimed the lives of 
over 4,000 men and women, we should also remember that the Rev. Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. was, above all, a person who was always willing 
to speak truth to power. There is perhaps no better example of Dr. 
King's moral integrity and consistency than his criticism of the 
Vietnam War being waged by the Johnson Administration, an 
administration that was otherwise a friend and champion of civil and 
human rights. He stated, ``We are adding cynicism to the process of 
death, for they must know after a short period there that none of the 
things we claim to be fighting for are really involved.''
   Dr. King was taken from us too soon at the tender age of 39 years 
old. Many people remember that Dr. King died in Memphis, but few 
remember why he was there. On that fateful day, the 4th day of April in 
1968, Dr. King came to Memphis to lead a strike by the city's 
sanitation workers.
   The death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will never 
overshadow his life. He was both a dreamer and a man of action. Forty 
years after his death, Dr. King continues to teach us all. He leaves a 
legacy of hope, tempered with peace; although, it is a vision not yet 
fulfilled.
   Mr. Speaker, words cannot convey or adequately repay the debt that 
is owed. We cannot sufficiently articulate the feelings of sorrow that 
are still universally felt; however, we can pay Dr. King and other 
civil rights pioneers no greater tribute than to carry on the work they

[[Page 4679]]

believed in and paid the ultimate sacrifice for. The contributions that 
Dr. King provided are priceless and will never be forgotten. As we 
recognize the 40th Anniversary of the slaying of a martyr, let us 
remember to commemorate his vision, remember his message, and 
rededicate ourselves to his goal of a free and just United States. I 
hope every person here rededicates his or her life to fulfilling his 
legacy--that all of us here highly resolve that Dr. King's dream never 
dies but becomes a living reality for all the children of this great 
nation and the world.
   I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important legislation, and, in-so-doing, giving Dr. King the respect 
that he so greatly deserves.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would first like 
to thank my colleague from Georgia Mr. John Lewis for introducing this 
resolution which honors the life and legacy of one of America's 
greatest citizens, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Today, nearly 40 years after he was tragically taken from us, we are 
still striving to create a society of equal opportunity which he so 
eloquently called for. We still have a long way to go before his goals 
will be achieved, but at least he left for us a beacon of hope toward 
which we can all strive.
  I am privileged to represent the Thirtieth District of Texas in the 
Congress and would note that there are many in North Texas who have 
endeavored to maintain the legacy of Dr. King. Indeed, in their 
everyday actions, the clergy, elected officials, students and community 
in the district strive to implement Dr. King's philosophy.
  In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace 
Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination 
through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
  It is ironic that his life was taken so prematurely at the hands of 
violence as he visited Memphis, Tennessee to help lead sanitation 
workers in a protest over black workers being sent home with no pay 
because of bad weather when white workers remained on the job. This 
tragic incident happened the day after he gave his ``I've been to the 
Mountaintop'' speech during which he seemed to almost prophetically 
foreshadow his impending death.
  Dr. King stood for the common man and for social and political 
justice in every facet and echelon of life. As a man of vision and 
determination to do God's will, King was truly destined to lead the 
people to the ``promised land.''
  Sadly, like Moses, Dr. King was not able to go into the promised land 
of opportunities with those he led so far through the wilderness of 
injustice, hatred, and bigotry. Still today, there are many that have 
been left to rough their way through the thicket of discrimination and 
racism. Therefore, it is our responsibility to carry on the beacon he 
left for us that lights the way to true equality and justice.
  Mr. Speaker, we can honor Dr. King by bowing our heads in memory of 
him, but only for a moment. For we must then lift our heads, hold each 
other hands, look ahead, heads high, and continue the fight for his 
sacrifice for this Nation which was freedom, equality and opportunity 
for all.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1061, 
a measure that observes the 40th anniversary of the assassination of 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and encourages the people of the United 
States to pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. This Friday, April 4, 2008, marks the tragic 40th anniversary 
of Dr. King's assassination. Dr. King's work for civil rights has 
remained an inspiration to all those committed to liberty and freedom 
throughout the world.
  While April 4 marks a sad day in American history, it is my hope 
that, as a nation, we will continue to reflect on the actions and 
accomplishments of Dr. King. Let April 4th be a day on which we 
celebrate Dr. King's life, study his teachings, and honor his legacy.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929, and grew 
up in Georgia, attending segregated schools throughout his early 
education. Overcoming these unjust beginnings, King went on to receive 
a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College in 1948, a Bachelor of 
Divinity from Pennsylvania's Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951, and a 
Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955 before becoming pastor at the 
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
  Dr. King was actively involved in the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and championed efforts for racial 
equality. In 1955, after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a 
white man on a Montgomery bus, Dr. King led the historic Montgomery Bus 
Boycott, the first nonviolent demonstration of the Civil Rights 
Movement. There, his steadfast adherence to nonviolence and unwavering 
devotion to the struggle for equality in the face of threats to his 
life propelled him to the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement.
  In 1957, Dr. King was elected President of the Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference (SCLC), where he drew inspiration from 
Christianity and the teachings of Ghandi to be a major leader in the 
Civil Rights Movement. In the ensuing decade, Dr. King was feverishly 
active in the struggle for racial equality, constantly traveling the 
country to orchestrate and participate in demonstrations and delivering 
the inspirational addresses for which he is renowned. In that time he 
also penned five books and many essays, consulted to Presidents Kennedy 
and Johnson, and became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace 
Prize. Unfortunately, Dr. King was assassinated on the evening of April 
4, 1968, on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where 
he planned to lead a protest march to show solidarity with striking 
garbage workers the next day.
  The nonviolent manner in which Dr. King fought for fundamental 
freedoms, such as desegregation and the right to vote, has had a 
lasting impact on the psyche of this country. Perhaps the greatest 
example of Dr. King's leadership and legacy is his ``I Have a Dream'' 
speech, which he gave in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the March 
on Washington in 1963. In that speech, Dr. King spoke about his dream 
for a nation where his four children would not be judged by the color 
of their skin, but by their character.
  Mr. Speaker, Friday may be the anniversary of the death of one of our 
nation's greatest citizens, but I also hope it is a day on which we can 
reflect on the positive changes that were set in motion due to Dr. 
King's work. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. raised the conscience of 
America. He made our nation reexamine our commitment to freedom and 
liberty, and he did so with a message of peace and non-violence. To 
this day, Dr. King's work, message, and legacy remain imprinted on the 
minds of those who carry on his noble cause across America, from 
Montgomery, Alabama, to Northwest Indiana.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
1061, authored by my good friend from the Georgia delegation, Mr. John 
Lewis.
  Since his death 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has come to 
be known as a visionary who drove political and social change in our 
country. And, as the Civil Rights movement evolved, he was an 
indispensable figure who made historic progress toward fulfilling the 
country's promise of freedom and justice for all.
  As a student at Morehouse, I was greatly influenced by his faith-
oriented philosophy--something which still guides me today. I remember 
meeting him on the Morehouse campus, where he had been a student 
himself a few years before and where he often returned.
  Before deciding on Emory Law School, I entertained the notion of 
going to seminary just as Dr. King did. In the end I decided to become 
a lawyer, in part because I realized that every time Dr. King went to 
jail, he needed a lawyer to help to get him out.
  Unfortunately I never had the privilege of helping him get out of 
jail. Forty years ago this month, I marched behind the mule-drawn wagon 
that carried his coffin, and I sang at his funeral as a member of the 
Morehouse Glee Club. It was an experience that will always remain vivid 
in my memory.
  Of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. was not a perfect person. He never 
claimed to be. Like all of us, he was a human being. But he possessed 
an abundance of qualities that ultimately made him an heroic and 
patriotic figure.
  He had unwavering faith not only in God, but also this country. He 
possessed limitless courage and sacrifice in the name of that faith, 
and endured numerous beatings, jailings, and dangers. He showed 
tremendous organizational skill by bringing people together and forging 
a consensus when no one else could.
  And his brilliant oratorical skill--eloquence and logic coupled with 
an appeal to better ourselves.
  In his eulogy for Dr. King, Dr. Benjamin Mays said:

       ``[Dr. King] had faith in this country. He died striving to 
     desegregate and integrate America to the end that this great 
     nation of ours, born in revolution and blood, conceived in 
     liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are 
     created free and equal, will truly become the lighthouse of 
     freedom . . .''

  Martin Luther King, Jr. will be remembered this week as a great 
leader of the civil rights era, a humanitarian, a man of God, a 
crusader, and by his family, as a loving husband and father.
  Additionally, many of us remember a man who lived his life in pursuit 
of this country's

[[Page 4680]]

founding principles. So as we commemorate his life with this resolution 
in the United States House of Representatives--I would also like to 
remember him as one of America's great patriots.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 
assassination of one of the most prominent leaders of the American 
Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King made the 
ultimate sacrifice advocating for civil rights when he was assassinated 
on this day 40 years ago while standing on the balcony of his motel 
room in Memphis, Tennessee. His untimely death gives our nation impetus 
to realize the dream he espoused, and carry on his legacy.
  Dr. King fought to raise the moral and political consciousness of all 
Americans. As a Baptist preacher, philosopher, and activist, he was 
most interested in creating a world where he could peacefully and 
righteously raise his own children. He was passionate about ending 
poverty and war, both in this country and abroad. Though he is revered 
for his role within the African American community, he believed that 
the struggle he led was ultimately for the liberation of the United 
States and all those who believed in freedom. In this time of global 
uncertainty and conflict, his wisdom and foresight should resonate with 
us all.
  I would like to share an excerpt from his speech given on April 4, 
1967 at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in 
New York City:

       ``Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. I 
     speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of 
     Vietnam. I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, 
     whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being 
     subverted. I speak for the poor of America who are paying the 
     double price of smashed hopes at home and death and 
     corruption in Vietnam. I speak as a citizen of the world, for 
     the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I 
     speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The 
     great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop 
     it must be ours. . . .
       The only change came from America as we increased our troop 
     commitments in support of governments which were singularly 
     corrupt, inept and without popular support. All the while the 
     people read our leaflets and received regular promises of 
     peace and democracy--and land reform. Now they languish under 
     our bombs and consider us--not their fellow Vietnamese --the 
     real enemy.''

  Dr. King believed in our collective potential to stand for justice 
and peace everywhere. On this day, we honor his life and legacy by 
protecting his dream, and living up to our inherent potential.
  Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, Martin Luther King, Jr. is a national hero. 
He embodied the tenacious spirit and compassionate understanding of the 
American ideal. The power of his words has moved millions to live with 
hope in their hearts and welcome in their embrace.
  Dr. King fought for racial equality and desegregation with nonviolent 
protest. Peace, he taught us, is our most powerful weapon. He helped 
communities begin to heal the wounds of hatred and indignity by 
replacing them with cooperation and tolerance. The mark he left on our 
society is indelible. When an assassin took him from us on that April 
day in 1968, Americans mourned a terrible loss. Sooner than expected, 
we had to enact the lessons he taught us without his guidance to show 
us the way. But his ink was already imprinted on our moral fiber, and 
our country continued his fight to end discrimination and segregation.
  Mr. Speaker, let us, as an American community, pause today to 
remember the legacy Dr. King left for each of us to carry--to dream, to 
love, and to accept.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 1061, 
commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., and encouraging people of the United States to pause 
and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Dr. King dedicated his life to fighting for equality for all men and 
women, regardless of race, creed or class. He was a courageous activist 
who worked tirelessly to give a voice to Americans whose voices had 
been silenced.
  We live in a society that has undergone infinite change because of 
this courageous man and his relentless pursuit of a better America. Yet 
while we have made immense progress in some areas, we must not turn a 
blind eye to the fact that the work that Dr. King started is not yet 
complete. Today the responsibility rests on our shoulders to continue 
his efforts. We must keep working.
  The American Dream means something different to everyone. And while 
it may mean something different to you than it does to your parents or 
the person sitting next to you at church, I know this: The American 
Dream is about being able to afford health care, and not having to 
decide between prescriptions and groceries. It is about being able to 
earn a wage that is sufficient enough to provide for your family. It is 
about being able to send your kids to college so they have access to 
more opportunities than you do.
  We teach our children that Dr. King gave his life in Memphis, but we 
forget to tell them that he was there helping sanitation workers fight 
for a living wage. We honor Dr. King by name today, but I believe we 
honor him best by passing legislation that makes it easier for 
Americans to realize the dream that Dr. King fought for. Most recently, 
we voted to approve the College Opportunity and Affordability of 2008, 
which authorizes the Federal Government's major federal student aid 
programs, among many other things. Our successes in these areas are 
made in his name and will help serve as a catalyst for even greater 
movements.
  Dr. King's eloquence and determination forced this House to pass long 
overdue civil rights legislation. This House should never be forced to 
do the right thing again. Dr. King said: ``Our lives begin to end the 
day we become silent about things that matter.'' This House should 
never be silent on the issues that mattered most to Dr. King, including 
protecting the rights of working Americans.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to honor 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today is the eve of the 40th 
anniversary of Dr. King's assassination in 1968.
  Dr. King is without question one of the greatest voices and most 
successful activists of our time. He spoke out against racial 
injustice, social inequality and economic prejudice on the domestic 
front. He promoted non-violence as the means with which to overcome the 
intolerance of society both at home and abroad.
  His was a voice that radiated humility in the face of great adversity 
and true danger. Dr. King believed silence to be a supreme betrayal and 
lead his life accordingly. It is not surprising that a man so great 
would then have a message so powerful that it still rings true today.
  His speeches and writings have held a timeless message over the forty 
years since his passing. They help to guide us as the complexities and 
struggles of modern society still infringe upon our right to life, 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness the world over. Mr. Speaker, I 
would like to offer the following quote of Dr. King's as an example:
  ``We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are 
confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum 
of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. 
Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us 
standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The `tide in 
the affairs of men' does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry 
out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to 
every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue 
of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: `Too late'. 
There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our 
vigilance or our neglect. `The moving finger writes, and having writ 
moves on . . .' We still have a choice today; nonviolent coexistence or 
violent co-annihilation.''
  Dr. King acknowledged the interconnectedness of peace, equality and 
justice. Dr. King understood the personal responsibility that each of 
us must live up to so that we overcome, once and for all, the ills that 
plague and seek to separate us.
  The Reverend understood the urgency of time as we work to overcome 
our struggles. Dr. King left us his teachings so that all around the 
world we may one day engage in what he termed the ``beloved 
community.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me as we walk these halls of Congress as 
protectors of the American dream, to think about Dr. King's words as 
they apply to the business of today. Let us work for peace, let us put 
an end to racism, let us stop all social injustice and let us realize 
that today is the day, for tomorrow may he too late.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House 
Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In mourning the loss of Dr. King, we must 
also simultaneously celebrate the life and legacy of this courageous 
civil rights leader.
  For the better part of his life, Dr. King stood in protest to 
inequality. He provided a voice to people once silenced by bigotry and 
intolerance. He preached nonviolence as a means of securing the 
fundamental principles of equality and justice, endowed to all people 
in the United States Constitution. Through his actions and life, Dr. 
King aided in creating the

[[Page 4681]]

world we live in today. I am deeply humbled and inspired by his resolve 
to achieve change in America. Dr. King's work as a civil rights 
activist and leader has been studied in depth. But, often overlooked is 
his stance against the war in Vietnam. In the wake of Jeremiah White's 
comments, I believe that it is important to understand that Dr. King 
was more than the icon we have created in our efforts to sanctify him. 
Yes, he lifts the dreamer and man who worked for racial reconciliation, 
but he was as well a leader with a strong moral vision who was willing 
to call our great Nation to task when it failed to live up to the 
standards he saw created by our Declaration of Independence and 
Constitution.
  Many parallels exist between Dr. King's opposition to the war in 
Vietnam and my opposition of the war in Iraq. Dr. King believed, as I 
believe, that the United States Government will never invest the 
necessary funds and energy required to improve the situation of the 
poor in America, as long as the country's resources are being diverted 
to a war. Similarly, Dr. King and I both agree that war 
disproportionately affects the poor, as more of them are sent to fight 
and die on foreign soil. As Dr. King once stated, ``A time comes when 
silence is betrayal,'' and today that time has come for us in relation 
to Iraq.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of steadfast conviction, 
determination, sheer grit, and uncompromising faith. That is why today. 
I stand here advocating the House Resolution commemorating the 40th 
anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man 
who has impacted the lives each and every American.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record my 
heartfelt support for H. Res. 1061, commemorating the 40th anniversary 
of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. April 4, 1968 was a 
tragic day for America and the world. We lost a visionary leader whose 
conviction that all men and women are created equal, be brought to 
fruition in our time. Today I will not mourn, but celebrate the life 
and legacy of Dr. King.
  Although we have come a long way in remedying the social injustices 
of our country's history, we must continue to be engaged in a dialogue 
of racial and economic equality. and for the peace that Dr. King gave 
his life for. He fought for peace here in America, and he fought for 
peace for all around the world.
  America is currently engaged in a war that has taken the lives of 
over 4,000 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis. The uncanny 
similarities that the war in Iraq has with the Vietnam war must lead us 
to adhere to Dr. King's message of nonviolence. Dr. King spoke out 
against the Vietnam war even when his colleagues questioned his wisdom.
  On April 4. 1967, a year to the day of his death. Dr. King addressed 
his colleagues at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at the 
Riverside Church in New York City. His speech that day was entitled 
Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence. His message was poignant then 
and speaks directly to us today.
  Dr. King stated, ``Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. 
I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of Vietnam. 
I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being 
destroyed, whose culture is being subverted. I speak for the poor of 
America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home and 
death and corruption in Vietnam. I speak as a citizen of the world, for 
the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I speak as an 
American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this 
war is ours. The initiative to stop it must he ours.''
  In order for us to continue Dr. King's legacy of peace and justice, 
we must take a stand to end the illegal and unjust war in Iraq. Today I 
reaffirm my commitment to ending this war and continuing the legacy of 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
   Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today, as we commemorate with 
great sadness the 40th anniversary of his assassination, Americans 
remember how Dr. King inspired us to turn our back on centuries of 
hatred and oppression, how he called on the better angels of our nature 
and led us to a more just America.
   Dr. King made us all believe we could change the world; and, we did. 
But for all that has been achieved since Dr. King was taken from us, 
much remains to be done.
   In the past 40 years, we have seen the fall of Jim Crow, but we have 
also seen the rise of economic inequality that divides the haves 
farther and farther from the have nots, with a shrinking and 
increasingly ignored middle class in between.
   We have seen the birth and growth of the black middle class, but in 
America's cities a black man born today is more likely to move to a 
prison cell than a college dorm.
   We have seen the death of de jure segregation, but in communities 
across America the impact of residential division continues to give us 
two school systems: separate and unequal.
   In the 40 years since Dr. King's death, our world has changed 
dramatically, but his vision of equality has lost none of its power. 
You could say that we need Dr. King today more than ever.
   As a congressman, I sometimes ask myself what Martin would do, and 
the answer never fails to provide some guidance.
   Dr. King fought for equality, and I believe he would be fighting 
today to ensure that every American student has the opportunity to live 
their dreams.
   Dr. King believed in the rights of working people, and I believe he 
would be struggling to give every American worker the right to join a 
union.
   And Dr. King was the victim of a vicious smear campaign launched by 
his own government. I believe he would be working to strengthen our 
civil liberties so that future government officials cannot harass 
future Dr. Kings.
   As we mark his death and celebrate his life, let us recommit 
ourselves to doing Dr. King's work in our own time. Dr. King brought us 
to the mountain top, but it is up to us to reach the Promised Land.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1061.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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