Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell joined Americans across this nation and the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by reading an excerpt of the Letter on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“Today we pay special tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in acknowledging the 50th Anniversary of the ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’,” said Rep. Sewell. “It was my humble honor to join with the Birmingham Public Library and so many voices around the world in reading an excerpt from Dr. King’s Letter on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Letter is a powerful reminder of how far this nation has come to live up to its ideas of equality and justice all. We must continue to fight injustice and discrimination anywhere and everywhere it exists and work to ensure equality for all Americans.”

Background on “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
On April 12, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and placed in solitary confinement at the Birmingham Jail for his participation in nonviolent demonstrations against segregation. While in jail, Dr. King came across an article in the Birmingham News entitled “White Clergymen Urge Local Negroes to Withdraw from Demonstrations.” The eight white clergymen were quite critical of those, like Dr. King, who were leading protests in segregated Birmingham and called the demonstrations "unwise and untimely." These criticisms inspired Dr. King to pen a letter that was published upon his release on April 16, 1963, and is what many historians and scholars consider the preeminent document of the Civil Rights Movement.

Click here to view the floor remarks from Congresswoman Sewell

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Contact: Rob NeSmith;       rob.nesmith@mail.house.gov;       202.225.2665