Dear Constituent,

This past holiday weekend, our nation collectively honored and commemorated the magnificent life and legacy of a civil rights icon: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

CLICK HERE or ABOVE to view Rep. Mfume's remarks paying tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 16, 2025).

On January 16, 2025, I delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to pay tribute to Dr. King, his passion for justice, his love of peace, and the simple eloquence of his example as we approached the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

It took 15 years of perseverance, tenacity, and resolve by activists, including myself, for this holiday to even be recognized and signed into federal law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. 

Considering MLK Day is also the only federal holiday classified as a National Day of Service, I felt personally driven in respect to the life and legacy of Dr. King to celebrate it how I always have — through acts of service. 

As such, I did not attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump as they both fell on the same day. For more on my reasoning for forgoing the inauguration ceremony that coincided with MLK Day, please CLICK HERE or on the IMAGE BELOW to read my editorial in Word in Black. 

I began my Day of Service on MLK Day preparing and serving cooked meals in the kitchen for visitors at Our Daily Bread Employment Center. 

Afterwards, I visited the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) to join MCVET Executive Director Misty Bruce and serve lunch and desserts to veterans housed at the center.  

MCVET provides comprehensive services to veterans in Baltimore with various needs, and it is always a moving experience engaging with those who have put their lives on the line to protect Americans’ freedoms at home. 

As we look back on MLK Day 2025, I sincerely hope that Dr. King's message of hope, his fight for justice and equality, and his life of service and sacrifice continue to resonate and inspire us all into the future. 

Sincerely,

Kweisi Mfume
Member of Congress