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Congressman Pallone Statement in Recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 17, 2017
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. released the following statement today in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day."Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King envisioned a world where all men and women are equal in the eyes of the law and where all Americans ‘will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.' While we have made great strides since his life was cut tragically short, his message still resonates today as a reminder of how far we still have to go."We cannot let the divisive rhetoric that has gripped our country move us away from Dr. King's vision. As Dr. King said, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.' While many Americans are greatly concerned about the future of our country, we need to focus on Dr. King's message of hope as we confront challenging times."Dr. King devoted his life to bringing awareness to society's problems and working with others to make strides toward solving them. He was once quoted as saying ‘Life's most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?' It is this philosophy that drove Dr. King during his life, and it is this philosophy that millions of Americans engender when they devote their time and energy to improving the lives of others through service." ###