The House honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. earlier this week. More than half a century ago, Dr. King struck the conscious of America with a powerful message: separate is not equal.
Though the days of segregation and Jim Crow are long over, the racial inequity from that era still casts a shadow over our schools and communities. Equality and opportunity are not afforded to everyone.
Today, Dr. King would see that poverty disproportionately impacts communities of color. Kids in these communities don’t get the same quality education that children born to wealthy parents get. He’d watch middle class mothers and fathers get fired for taking sick days, and women get paid less to do the same job as men.
What do you think he’d have to say?
MLK Day is over, but it’s not enough to wait another year until we honor him again. We need to spend our year honoring Dr. King with our deeds.
Let’s keep fighting for a just and fair America. Let’s keep Dr. King’s march moving because we haven’t reached our destination yet. Let’s fight for equality and opportunity for all.
Rep. Strom Peterson honoring Dr. King on the House floor.