John,

I was almost 16 – a sophomore at Columbia River High School in Vancouver—when Martin Luther King was assassinated in April 1968, but I still remember the grief of our nation.

Dr. King was a great man. He preached peace, civil disobedience, led the civil rights movement, and stood up for the rights of people of color across the United States.

Today, I'm thinking not just about what Dr. King accomplished, but how – his focus on love and his determination to see the humanity in every person.

His murder was the third of the decade's four chilling assassinations: John F. Kennedy in 1963; Malcolm X in 1965; Martin Luther King in April, 1968. Senator Robert F. Kennedy would be killed weeks later.

But while the political violence was frequent, it was still shocking. These moments stand out in my memory because our country – including our elected officials – united around the common value that bloodshed has no place in our politics.

That's why I'm so troubled by the casual, at times almost gleeful attitude toward political violence some of our leaders hold.

From the January 6th insurrection to the plots to kidnap the Governor of Michigan and to riots in Charlottesville, extremists seem to be more and more willing to turn violent rhetoric into violent acts. These acts alone are horrifying, but their effect is compounded by leaders who deny the details, or worse, excuse them.

I've rooted my entire career in the belief that the ties that bind us together as Americans and Washingtonians are stronger than our differences. Sure, the news challenges that belief daily. That only makes me more determined to find a way to see the humanity in every person. In the words of Doctor King,

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that"

Today, as we remember the life and sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., remember that it is our job to be the light. Extremism is not gone, but together we can weaken it, supplant it, and drive it out with our light.

Sincerely,

Denny