Congressman Chris Van Hollen today released the following statement commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
“On this day, the 40th anniversary of the day when Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot down in Memphis and our nation lost one of its greatest sons, we pause to remember and reflect on the legacy he left. We remember and mourn the loss of a man who faced fear and oppression and countered with truth and dignity. We mourn the loss of a man who could have done so much more – who dedicated his whole life to the cause of freedom for all people and who, at the time of his death, was focusing his attention on a crusade against poverty and a fight for peace in the world. But we know that his voice was never truly silenced, and the clear moral message in his words and deeds is a constant reminder today.
“His is a voice that carries over generations, reminding us that “the time is always right to do what is right.”
“His is a voice without boundaries, reaching all corners of the world, crying out that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
“His is a voice that continues to call us to action, saying “the ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy.”
“His voice is a clarion call, a mandate, a demand for all of us to do better, to remember the dream, and to change the world. And on this day, the anniversary of his death, we remember that “the quality, not the longevity of one’s life is what is important” and rededicate ourselves to meeting the high standard he set for us in the too short time he lived.”