Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Terri Sewell issued the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day:

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dreamed of a day when race would no longer divide us and that everyone would ‘sit down together at the table of brotherhood.’ Only a true visionary could defeat a torrent of opposition with little more than a dream, and Dr. King held so tightly to his that it forced our country to become a more equal and just nation. He confronted his enemies with friendship, showered hate with love, and combatted violence with non-violence.

“We cannot take for granted the struggles that others have endured. Dr. King’s legacy requires us to continue the fight for social justice and to challenge those who seek to take away our rights.

“We have already witnessed a renewed assault on our right to vote, and we must once again demand that America live up to its principles. I urge Congress to pass legislation that would strengthen federal voting protections. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery and of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965. These are parts of the legacy that Dr. King has left to us. Let us live up to it.”

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Congresswoman Terri Sewell is a Democrat from Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.
A Member of the House Financial Services Committee and the House Select Intelligence Committee.