Honor Martin Luther King Jr by fighting for voting rights

Today, on this day set aside to honor and remember him, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr will be referenced on social media platforms and media interviews by conservative Republicans. They will share some essentially meaningless quote, or misinterpret him in some way to suit their agenda, or post a picture of him with something generic about honoring his legacy. We are all expected to forget the past year of insane rhetoric about Critical Race Theory and the unfounded backlash against diversity, inclusion, and equality initiatives by these same people.

No, we will not forget. Republicans have openly and viciously attacked the principles at the very heart of Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights mission. Pretending that you don’t see color and simply saying to yourself that you aren’t a racist dishonors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Actively supporting an effort that has resulted in legal challenges to African-American centered children's literature, violence and intimidation targeting school staff, censorship, and whitewashing of history in our school textbooks is a complete betrayal of his legacy. In the wake of the white supremacist inspired insurrection of January 6th, a very real attempt to overthrow the government of the United States, the forces of white anger and grievance have marshaled their efforts behind invalidating the experiences of black lives and silencing black voices.

Across the nation conservative Republicans in elected office at all levels of government have renounced their allegiance to the principles embodied in the Republic. In an act of irony they have sold themselves in slavery to the cult of personality surrounding former President Trump. This, their champion of white supremacy and racial division, now owns them, body and soul.

The ideals upon which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr rested his campaign of non-violence are imperiled by these hypocrites. Justice. Freedom. Equality. These foundations of the Republic are under attack. The open assault on voting rights in states controlled by Republicans is happening right before our eyes. The Big Lie of the stolen election, parroted by millions of aggrieved conservatives, is being weaponized against people of color.

Dr. King fought for justice.

He fought for freedom.

He fought for equality.

And so should you.