Hello,

In 1967 I met Dr. King at the Ebenezer Baptist Church at the annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference meeting. I had dropped out of college and was a community organizer in Chicago, and hopped on a bus to Atlanta to hear Dr. King speak.

At the Ebenezer Baptist Church I sat and listened to Dr. King preach. After the service everyone left, but I lingered, hoping to meet Dr. King. I saw that the people who remained were going upstairs so I went too, and saw Dr. King was having a press conference about his strong opposition to the Vietnam war. My memory of his fierce speech, and his unwavering courage has stayed with me.

As we remember Dr. King's legacy now in 2022, I feel that today is not a day of rest but of action. In 1957, seven years before the Civil Rights Act was passed, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went to Washington to speak about voting rights.

He said:

"In the midst of these prevailing conditions, we come to Washington today pleading with the president and members of Congress to provide strong, moral, and courageous leadership for a situation that cannot permanently be evaded. We come humbly to say to the men in the forefront of our government that the civil rights issue is not an ephemeral, evanescent domestic issue that can be kicked about by reactionary guardians of the status quo; it is rather an eternal moral issue which may well determine the destiny of our nation..."

Dr. King’s words ring true today. This moment calls for action to protect our democracy and determine the path forward for our country. The right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy, and it’s under threat. This moment requires all of us to stand up and speak out and lead, especially those in power.

As Rev. King said that day in 1957: "In this juncture of our nation’s history, there is an urgent need for dedicated and courageous leadership. "

Dr. King is right — there is an urgent need to lead. Let’s do it together by committing ourselves to his vision and legacy.

Thank you,

Peter