Rep. Clarke released the following statement commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“As we commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I ask that you take a moment to remember what Dr. King strived for; equality for all.  He dedicated his life to ensuring that all Americans, no matter what the color of their skin, had access to the rights they deserved. There is no doubt that this great public servant, helped break the very chains of inequality and injustice that plagued African Americans and many people of color in this nation.

“During the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King fought against hatred, bigotry, and intolerance by mastering the art of peace.  He boldly led peace demonstrations and protests, with black and whites alike, against segregation laws in the south.

“On August 28, 1963, he led the march on Washington.  There he shared his vision for this nation in his legendary speech, ‘I Have a Dream.’  He envisioned an America where ‘… little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.’  As a beneficiary of the Civil Rights movement, it is a privilege for me to see and witness the fruits of his labor.

“Let us keep his memory alive by making a commitment to using love and understanding to bridge some of the remaining divides in our nation.  While we have come a long way we still have a long way to go. In the spirit of Dr. King we must continue to march on to the ‘Promise Land.’”