Pelosi Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 18, 2021
Contact: Speaker's Press Office,
202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is observed annually as a national day of service on the third Monday of January in honor of the civil rights leader's birthday on January 15, 1929:
"Each Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, our nation celebrates the enduring legacy of a man of faith and vision who dedicated his life to ensuring that peace, prosperity and equality were a reality for all people. As Americans across the country honor his life through acts of service, we gain strength from Dr. King's Dream and rededicate ourselves to his lifelong work to advance a more perfect union.
"This year, while we face a time of extraordinary challenge, we take inspiration from Dr. King's words that, ‘True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.' As we prepare to inaugurate the historic Biden-Harris Administration this week, our focus must be on justice by safeguarding and building on Dr. King's victories for our most marginalized and vulnerable communities, from securing voting rights and workers' rights to expanding the promise of civil rights for all. Our new, unified Democratic government will be committed to the fundamental promise of justice – economic justice, justice in health care and COVID relief, racial justice as well as environmental and climate justice.
"Today, and every day, Democrats remain empowered by Dr. King's clarion voice for justice, for peace and for opportunity. Guided by the transformative work of this American hero, we will never stop fighting For The People, to strengthen our democracy and build a brighter, more just and equal future for all."
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