[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[January 15, 2000]
[Pages 63-64]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
January 15, 2000

    Good morning. On Monday America will celebrate, through reflection 
and service, the birth of the 20th century's great champion for justice 
and civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King. Today I want to talk with you 
about new steps we're taking to fulfill Dr. King's dream and redeem 
America's promise.
    Of course, we've come a long way. I'm joined today by a woman named 
Charlotte Filmore. Mrs. Filmore is 100 
years old. Through the years, she's seen her share of discrimination. A 
good while ago she worked at the White House, and back then, even here, 
she had to use a side door. Well, today Charlotte Filmore came to the 
White House through the front door, and all the way to the Oval Office. 
But there is still more to do. So, this morning I want to tell you about 
what we're doing to open more doors of opportunity for all Americans.
    In his last speech, Dr. King reminded us that the work of dignity 
and justice is as old as America itself. He said it's about going back 
to those great wells of democracy dug deep by our Founding Fathers and 
the Constitution. To draw from that well, Dr. King challenged us to dig 
deep within our own hearts to face our flaws, renew our values, live up 
to our Nation's creed.
    We are doing better. We have the strongest economy in a generation, 
the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years, and thankfully, the lowest 
African-American and Hispanic unemployment

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rates ever recorded, the lowest African-American poverty rate ever 
recorded, and the lowest Hispanic poverty rate in 25 years. We are 
coming together as a community. Our social fabric is on the mend.
    But still there are people and places throughout America that have 
been left behind by this economic recovery. Minority unemployment and 
poverty still is about twice the national average. Still there are too 
many barriers on the road to opportunity, too many examples of Americans 
facing discrimination in daily life.
    No American in the 21st century should have to face such 
discrimination when it comes to finding a home, getting a job, going to 
school, securing a loan. That's why I'm very proud that my budget for 
the coming year will include the largest ever investment to enforce our 
civil rights laws, to help make sure that protections in law are 
protections in fact.
    I'm proposing a 20 percent increase for the Civil Rights Division of 
the Justice Department. That would almost double the annual budget for 
the office since I became President 7 years ago. Under the leadership of 
Acting Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee, the Civil Rights Division has enforced our civil rights 
laws justly and fairly. And so again, on behalf of all Americans, I ask 
the Senate to confirm Mr. Lee as our Nation's top civil rights enforcer.
    Our budget also includes a 14 percent increase for the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, so that it continue its work to 
enforce laws prohibiting employment discrimination. And we're beefing up 
our other civil rights enforcements effort throughout our National 
Government.
    We must also do more to root out forces of hate and intolerance. 
We've seen far too many acts of violence targeted at others solely 
because of who they are, from the dragging death of James Byrd to the 
brutal killing of Matthew Shepard to the murder of the African-American 
basketball coach and the Korean-American student in the Midwest to the 
shooting at the Jewish school in Los Angeles and the murder of the 
Filipino postal worker. Such hate crimes leave deep scars not just on 
the victims but on our larger community, for they take aim at others for 
who they are. And when they do, they take aim at America. So once again, 
I ask Congress to stop the delay and pass strong hate crimes 
legislation.
    Taken together, these efforts will move us closer to building one 
America in the 21st century.
    Dr. King taught us the most important civil right is to provide 
every citizen with the chance to live the American dream. This is the 
best chance we've had in my lifetime, maybe even in Mrs. 
Filmore's lifetime, to give every American 
a shot at that dream.
    So as we celebrate Dr. King's life and legacy, let's keep following 
his footsteps to draw from that deep well of democracy and deepen the 
meaning of freedom for all Americans.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from the Oval Office at the 
White House. The Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday proclamation 
of January 14 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.