Post by bot on Jan 18, 2014 3:49:09 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which occurs on Monday, January 20:
“As we mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth, let us recall his inspiring lessons of nonviolence and compassion. Dr. King preached equality and individual dignity with an abiding faith that hatred and injustice stood no chance against the forces of brotherhood and our common humanity. With just as much passion, he advocated for the bitter sorrows of poverty to be replaced with the promise of abundant opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race or creed.
“As we celebrate the victories of the Civil Rights Movement, including the landmark Voting Rights Act that we must fully restore and defend against those who would undermine the fundamental right to vote, let us also rededicate ourselves to the ongoing mission of promoting economic opportunities and protecting the most vulnerable in our society from poverty. America cannot achieve its highest purpose as long as any of its people face hunger, homelessness, joblessness, or despair – or if the opportunities to overcome these challenges cannot be equally accessed because of color, sex, language, or national origin. We can make progress on this front right away by restoring emergency unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans and counting and by raising the minimum wage so that those in the lowest-paying jobs can still make ends meet. In the wealthiest nation on Earth, surely we have the resources to end poverty in our midst by working together as one nation, inspired by Dr. King’s legacy and committed to making his unfinished work our own.”
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