Press Releases

Wasserman Schultz Statement on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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

“Today we honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and all the progress he ushered in for our nation. He helped expand the right to vote - our sacred franchise - and demanded equality in our public accommodations.

“An organizer, activist and preacher, he knew well the importance of forging bonds between people, to secure progress and improve our world. He knew that achievements like the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act did not magically appear on President Lyndon Johnson’s desk – they only arrived there by uniting people from all over the country.

“He had to bring people together from different faith communities – helping the Southern Christian Leadership Conference work hand-in-hand with Jewish rabbis and activists to register voters and join sit-ins; he had to help people understand that if there was injustice in Birmingham’s voting booths, there was also injustice in Boston’s voting booths.

“He had to help people understand that the March on with its full title the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” – did not just mean jobs and freedom for African-Americans, but for everyone. He made progress every day of his life – and we should all strive to do the same, no matter how big or small the mountain we’re climbing. 

“As our nation prepares for a new March on Washington and the peaceful transfer of power, we commit ourselves to upholding and building on Dr. King’s legacy – he would have wanted nothing less.”

###

Contact:

David Damron, David.Damron@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931

Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931