WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan., delivered remarks Tuesday, June 24, at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and presenting a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Levin sponsored legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Kings.
'The Congressional Gold Medal resolution that we are implementing today commemorates the ability of an inspired couple, armed only with the righteousness of their cause, to help liberate millions from oppressive racism.
'We also commemorate today the ability of elected officials, led by President Johnson, armed only with the desire for justice, to overcome the divisions of party in order to help overcome the divisions of race.
'In October 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to his beloved Coretta from a Georgia prison 230 miles from Atlanta, a prison to which he had been hauled in irons in the middle of the night. And this is what he said: 'I have the faith to believe that this excessive suffering that is now coming to our family will in some little way serve to make ... America a better country.'
'If the Reverend and Mrs. King could speak to us now, if our predecessors who passed the Civil Rights Act could speak to us now, would they not challenge us to come together across lines of party and geography in a great cause? Would they not encourage us, for example, to pass legislation restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act? Or would they not encourage us to pass legislation reversing the policies that leave thousands of nonviolent young men languishing in prison?
'We can best celebrate the lives of those we honor and remember today by channeling their inspiration into taking on the tasks before us, tasks surely far, far less daunting than the ones that they undertook. Coming together to help lead our nation on its continuing march toward a more perfect union is the duty that they have laid before us.
'And finally, to Martin and Dexter and Bernice, our nation owes a debt of gratitude to your father and mother that can never be repaid. This Congressional Gold Medal is the most that Congress has the power to give.' * Preceding provided by Senator Carl Levin of Michaigan
WASHINGTON - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., delivered remarks today at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda commemorating the 50 th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and presenting a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Levin sponsored legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Kings.
Levin's remarks as delivered follow:
'The Congressional Gold Medal resolution that we are implementing today commemorates the ability of an inspired couple, armed only with the righteousness of their cause, to help liberate millions from oppressive racism.
'We also commemorate today the ability of elected officials, led by President Johnson, armed only with the desire for justice, to overcome the divisions of party in order to help overcome the divisions of race.
'In October 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to his beloved Coretta from a Georgia prison 230 miles from Atlanta, a prison to which he had been hauled in irons in the middle of the night. And this is what he said: 'I have the faith to believe that this excessive suffering that is now coming to our family will in some little way serve to make ... America a better country.'
'If the Reverend and Mrs. King could speak to us now, if our predecessors who passed the Civil Rights Act could speak to us now, would they not challenge us to come together across lines of party and geography in a great cause? Would they not encourage us, for example, to pass legislation restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act? Or would they not encourage us to pass legislation reversing the policies that leave thousands of nonviolent young men languishing in prison?
'We can best celebrate the lives of those we honor and remember today by channeling their inspiration into taking on the tasks before us, tasks surely far, far less daunting than the ones that they undertook. Coming together to help lead our nation on its continuing march toward a more perfect union is the duty that they have laid before us.
'And finally, to Martin and Dexter and Bernice, our nation owes a debt of gratitude to your father and mother that can never be repaid. This Congressional Gold Medal is the most that Congress has the power to give.'
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- See more at: http://ift.tt/1mlM7bz
WASHINGTON - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., delivered remarks today at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda commemorating the 50 th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and presenting a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Levin sponsored legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Kings.
Levin's remarks as delivered follow:
'The Congressional Gold Medal resolution that we are implementing today commemorates the ability of an inspired couple, armed only with the righteousness of their cause, to help liberate millions from oppressive racism.
'We also commemorate today the ability of elected officials, led by President Johnson, armed only with the desire for justice, to overcome the divisions of party in order to help overcome the divisions of race.
'In October 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote to his beloved Coretta from a Georgia prison 230 miles from Atlanta, a prison to which he had been hauled in irons in the middle of the night. And this is what he said: 'I have the faith to believe that this excessive suffering that is now coming to our family will in some little way serve to make ... America a better country.'
'If the Reverend and Mrs. King could speak to us now, if our predecessors who passed the Civil Rights Act could speak to us now, would they not challenge us to come together across lines of party and geography in a great cause? Would they not encourage us, for example, to pass legislation restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act? Or would they not encourage us to pass legislation reversing the policies that leave thousands of nonviolent young men languishing in prison?
'We can best celebrate the lives of those we honor and remember today by channeling their inspiration into taking on the tasks before us, tasks surely far, far less daunting than the ones that they undertook. Coming together to help lead our nation on its continuing march toward a more perfect union is the duty that they have laid before us.
'And finally, to Martin and Dexter and Bernice, our nation owes a debt of gratitude to your father and mother that can never be repaid. This Congressional Gold Medal is the most that Congress has the power to give.'
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- See more at: http://ift.tt/1mlM7bz
Entities 0 Name: Congressional Gold Medal Count: 12 1 Name: Martin Luther King Jr. Count: 6 2 Name: King Count: 6 3 Name: Levin Count: 5 4 Name: Georgia Count: 3 5 Name: WASHINGTON Count: 3 6 Name: Capitol Rotunda Count: 3 7 Name: Sen. Carl Levin Count: 3 8 Name: Dexter Count: 3 9 Name: Congress Count: 3 10 Name: Johnson Count: 3 11 Name: Martin Count: 3 12 Name: Coretta Scott King Count: 3 13 Name: America Count: 3 14 Name: Atlanta Count: 3 15 Name: Bernice Count: 3 16 Name: D-Mich. Count: 2 17 Name: D.C Count: 1 18 Name: Carl Levin Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/Tuicm3 Title: Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Rev. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King Description: Fifty years after their instrumental role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, on Tuesday.
