WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in advance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday:

“Today we proudly honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man whose enduring faith, hope, and commitment to justice continues to capture the collective conscience of our nation. His message was simple – that love will always conquer hate – and with the power of that idea, he inspired and mobilized generations of Americans to join him in the struggle for equality. Indeed, he challenged us to strive to become a better society, and today, the fabric of our nation is stronger as a result of his unwavering courage and unshakeable vision. The journey, however, is far from over and as we commemorate Dr. King let us also rededicate ourselves to the noble ideals which he so passionately espoused.”

On August 28, 1963, then-19-year old college student Angus King climbed to the top of a tree on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to watch Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his historic “I Have a Dream Speech” to a crowd of a quarter million people. Fifty years later to the day, Senator King returned to the National Mall where he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and honored Dr. King’s speech:

“Fifty years ago at this place, at this sacred place, Americans sent a message to their leaders and around the world, that the promise of equality of opportunity, equality before the law, equality in the right to freely participate in the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, applied to everyone in this country – not just the lucky few of the right color or the accident of birth,” Senator King said at the ceremony. “This is what Martin Luther King meant when he said that his dream was deeply rooted in the American dream.”

To watch Senator King’s remarks, click here.

Senator King will deliver remarks at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances at Bates College on Monday, January 20, 2014. For more information, click here.

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