Press Releases

Sunrise, FL – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“As Americans come together to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are surrounded by far too many reminders of the progress that we have not yet made. Those with hate in their hearts have stormed college campuses from Charlottesville to Gainesville - aided by many more who spew bigotry and racism behind the anonymity of the Internet. Efforts to keep minorities away from the ballot box still threaten the sacred right to vote. And the current occupant of the Oval Office has made a slew of vile, racist comments that have no place in our public discourse.

Over the last decade, this nation has made enormous progress in the quest for social justice and equality. Yet, the arc of history has not bent easily and we now face a series of setbacks and obstacles that we simply cannot ignore. As Dr. King once said, 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'

I challenge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to never respond to acts of bigotry with silence. Today and every day, we must honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not just with our words, but with our deeds.”