Congresswoman Dingell Statement Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dingell honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. alongside Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bankole Thompson and Rev. Wendell Anthony in Detroit, where Dr. King first gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) releasesed the following statement honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Today, we recognize not only the life and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but the ideals of peace and justice that he taught. I was lucky enough as a child to hear Dr. King speak weeks before he was assassinated. To this day I remember the power of that speech and the turmoil of the times.
"Dr. King taught us to live in a way that recognizes the inherent dignity and value in each and every person, and to always remember that it is the merit of our ideas, not the power we possess, that can change minds, change this nation and change the world.
"We continue to live in turbulent times. The challenges are different, but they remain real. We need to pursue serious dialogue with diverse members of our communities to address, talk, listen and seek answers and solutions for the realities that we face. Dr. King said that '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.' His words are as true today as they were then, and it is my hope that as we celebrate his life, we can rededicate ourselves to the ideals of justice and opportunity that Dr. King fought for all his life."