“I have a dream…

I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers

I have a dream today” --Martin Luther King Jr. August 1963

Charleston: Capitol: As an annual celebration on the third Monday of January, the United States celebrates the dream of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin of Logan County honored the life of a man whose voice can still be heard as…

“I have a dream…”

“Today marks the legacy that Dr. King fought so diligently for equality—a commitment that still continues to ring true.” President Tomblin delivered today a speech inspiring citizens to continue to have moral commitments to Dr. King’s values for justice, equality and non- violence. Following are Senator Tomblin’s remarks…

“TODAY WE MARK THE LIFE OF MAN AND A MOVEMENT WHICH HE CULTIVATED IN THE HEARTS OF AMERICANS WHO SAW THE NEED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

WHILE HIS VOICE HAS BEEN STILLED, HIS WORK HAS NOT CEASED.

IT ECHOES THROUGH THE HISTORY OF OUR DAYS, AND THROUGH THE HALLS OF OUR COURTHOUSES, STATEHOUSES, AND IN THE HALLS OF OUR NATION’S CAPITOL.

AS CITIZENSHIP IS NOT CHEAP, SO ARE THE ATTEMPTS OF MEN WHO HAVE INHERITED THE DREAM OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.

THE COST OF FREEDOM HAS NEVER BEEN CHEAP, SOMETHING WHICH WE REMEMBER TODAY AS WE REFLECT ON HIS LIFE AND THE PRICE HE PAID FOR FULL CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ANY OTHER DISTINCTION CREATED BY THE HATEFUL BARRIERS SOME MEN BUILT OVER THE CENTURIES.

WHILE HIS DREAM WILL NEVER DIE, ALSO THE COMMITMENT HE BROUGHT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US ALL WILL NEVER FADE FROM OUR CONSCIENCE.

HE SOUGHT TO DEVELOP A RACE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION, WHICH WOULD RULE IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, AS WELL AS WITHIN ITS LAWS.

HE CAUSED US TO LOOK AT JUSTICE, NOT BLINDLY AS DOES LADY JUSTICE, BUT BECAUSE THE HUMANITY WHICH SHOULD RULE OUR HEARTS DEMANDS IT.

LET US RE-COMMIT OURSELVES TO AN AMERICA WHERE ALL MEN ARE FREE TO PURSUE HAPPINESS, TO PURSUE IT WITHOUT FEAR, TO PURSUE IT ON LEVEL GROUND, WHERE WE CAN HONOR THE DREAM OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FOR THAT SHINING CITY WHICH SITS ON A HIGH HILL.

Contact: Heather Nelson 304-357-7915 or email heather.nelson@wvsenate.gov