Throughout his life, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized the rights of working men and women. Dr. King traveled to Memphis TN in support of sanitation workers who were represented by AFSCME Local 1733. These union workers had been on strike since March 12th for higher wages and better treatment. Dr. King addressed a rally and delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech in support of the striking sanitation workers at Mason Temple on April 3, 1968 - the day before he was assassinated.
It was a message given to end poverty and give dignity to all Americans. It was a campaign for fair pay, decent benefits and economic justice. And his message is as relevant today as it was then, "For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory."
This year would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 91st birthday. As we celebrate his life on this day set aside to honor his memory, let us all take the time to remember this great man and his message. How we remember Dr. King matters, it helps us to see where we have been, and to understand his agenda for our own lives.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
