Albright Remarks On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright Statement on the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Read by Mrs. Christine King Farris, Dr. King's sister, at Annual Commemorative Service, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia) January 17, 2000

As once again we pause to remember the towering moral and spiritual leadership Martin Luther King Jr. gave to this nation, let us not forget that Dr. King was also speaking his truths to the world. Thirty-seven years ago, from his jail cell in Birmingham, Dr. King wrote to allies who criticized the presence of outsiders at the demonstrations in that city. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he said.

Colleagues and disciples of Dr. King in the Civil Rights Movement -- Andrew Young, John Lewis, and Patricia Derian -- have gone on to become champions of human rights abroad. This country must continue to be guided by Dr. King's vision, not only at home but also in all our dealings with other nations.

In the last decade, we in America have been thrilled by the march of freedom and democracy across the globe- from Poland to East Germany to Chile to South Africa. But as Dr. King knew very well, evil and injustice are always at work in the world.

May his words and his example continue to move us and our world to greater heights of freedom and more far reaching acts of humanity. (###)

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