DeLauro Delivers Remarks at Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Before West Haven Black Coalition’s 27th Tribute

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) spoketoday at the West Haven Black Coalition's 27th annual tribute to the Rev.Martin Luther King Jr. The followingremarks are as prepared for delivery:

"This year will mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's"I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, one of thequintessential statements of the American creed, as vital and resonant in ourhistory as the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

"Today, schoolchildren can visit the National Malland see, along with monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt,an impressive memorial dedicated to the vision and memory of Dr. King. And oneweek from today, an African-American will once again take the oath for thehighest office in the land – our first two-term black president.

"I have to say, I am very excited to attendPresident Obama's inauguration. There are some moments in your life where itfeels like you can see history unfolding right in front of you. In 2013, the150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, President Obama will againtake the oath of office. He will use two bibles in the official ceremony. Oneis Abraham Lincoln's, the signer of that proclamation a century and a half ago.The other is Dr. King's.

"We have seen unmistakable progress towards thedream Dr. King bestowed upon us. But, aswe pause to reflect on Dr. King's life and legacy, we have to avoid thetemptation to pride ourselves on these steps forward. "One of the sure signs ofmaturity," King wrote, "is the ability to rise to the point of self-criticism." And, frankly, we have so much more to do.

"For Dr. King passionately railed not only againstracism, but against war, poverty, and economic injustice. Let us remember, the"I Have a Dream" speech was given as part of the March on Washington for Jobsand Freedom.

"Dr. King would rail against the unemployment we areexperiencing in America today –7.8% across the nation, and 14% among AfricanAmericans. He would question any idea ofprogress when millions still live in poverty and hunger. One in six Americansnow lives under the poverty line, and close to 50 million Americans, including16 million children, have to worry each day about where their next meal iscoming from. That includes one out of every four African-American households.

"Like us, he would look in horror at tragedies likethe one that occurred last month in Sandy Hook. For Dr. King abhorred violenceof any kind, and knew it only perpetuated a cycle of destruction. He wouldimplore us not to let this terrible tragedy harden our hearts against ourneighbors. As he said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can dothat. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"Unemployment, poverty, hunger, violence, inequality– These all remain with us. We have a long way to go before we truly achieveDr. King's Dream. To get there, we have to band together, and we have to keeppushing. He reminded us that "changedoes not roll in on the wheels of inevitability" and that "human progress isneither automatic nor inevitable." Instead, he warned, "every step toward thegoal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle."

"Dr. King's path to change was not an easy one. But,to truly honor his legacy, we must keep pressing onwards, and to do it the wayhe would have done it – with a steadfast commitment to the principle ofnon-violence.

"As we reflect on Dr. King's legacy today, let us beunyielding in our commitment to change, but also unwavering in our commitmentto love, charity, and forgiveness for all our brothers and sisters. Let us keepDr. King as a guiding light to inspire us to all work harder – not only to makethe world better, but to be better to each other. That is how we will achievehis vision, and that is how we will change the world.

"Thank you so much, and Happy Dr. King Day."