Rep. Johnson's statement the observation of The Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day

I'm proud to represent Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District – home to DeKalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett and Newton counties and a small, but mighty city immortalized in Dr. King’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech – “Stone Mountain of Georgia.”

More than a half a century ago, a young preacher called a generation to action and forever changed the course of history.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to justice and equality, sowing seeds of hope for a day when all people might claim “the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”

Dr. King led us toward a mountaintop on which all Americans—regardless of skin color—could live together in mutual respect and harmony. His fearless leadership and prophetic eloquence united people of all backgrounds in a noble quest for freedom and basic human rights.

Inspired by Dr. King’s legacy, unflinching souls have marched endlessly, organized relentlessly, and devoted their lives to the never-ending task of perfecting our union. Their bravery and dedication have carried us closer to the promise land. But, their achievements are mere milestones on the long road to full opportunity and equal rights. We must never forget the road is still being travelled and we have our own milestones to make.

Today, we who are the beneficiaries of Dr. King’s legacy must face our challenges with the same strength, persistence, and resolve embodied by the great Movement leaders — Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, Rev. C. T. Vivian, Dr. Joseph Lowery and my friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis.

Our current challenge in America is to expand access to opportunity and tear down structural inequalities. Only then can we truly have equal access in employment and economic mobility.

And it’s why I have taken a national leadership role in the new struggles of our day to bring equal justice under the law and end discrimination in our criminal justice system.

I’m standing on the shoulders of our historic giants by offering serious legislative solutions to some of our most pressing civil rights battles -- the over-militarization of our police forces and reforming the broken grand jury system.

I humbly submit that all of us must work toward ensuring a strong foundation, supporting economic security for everyone and extending the founding promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to every American.

During his lifetime, Dr. King was committed to serving others, reminding us that (quote) “human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle.”

The annual commemoration of Dr. King’s life through a National Holiday is not only a tribute to his legacy, but also a reminder that — every day — each of us can play a part in continuing his noble work.

For this reason, we honor Dr. King’s contributions with a national day of service. It is truly a “day on, not a day off.”

Every year, the King commemoration encourages all Americans to learn more about service opportunities in our communities. By dedicating ourselves to service, we move our nation closer to Dr. King’s vision of all Americans living and working together as one beloved community.

Today, we are gathered with grateful hearts for the life and legacy of Dr. King — and — for the renewal of our commitment to see his dream fulfilled!

Thank you.

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