Washington, DC – The memory of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his life’s work, recently enshrined on The Mall in our nation’s capital, continues to guide America’s broadly shared vision of a more perfect union.

The commemorative national holiday in Dr. King’s honor is a time to reflect on that vision and the path of nonviolence that he chose. It is also a time to actively affirm our dedication to building a society where freedom rings and in which every individual is afforded the opportunity to live his or her dreams.

That affirmation is especially important as the national election draws near. Perfecting our democracy requires the commitment of every citizen to fully exercise the rights that so many of our forbears – including Dr. King – have died to uphold for us.

On this holiday, let us honor the Reverend Dr. King for his bequest of a legacy and a dream that enriches us all.  Let us rededicate ourselves to the essential task of translating the rights he championed into a more robust and vigorous level of civic engagement by all our fellow citizens. Let us continue to stand together for the cause of justice under the law, equal and greater opportunity for all, and an America that lives up to its historic promise.

About the Joint Center

The Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies is one of the nation’s leading research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color. To learn more, please visit www.jointcenter.org.