Cohen Statement in Recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

“Just over 50 years ago, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to remind the American people of the ‘fierce urgency of now,’ of the pressing need to address injustice, inequality, and unfairness immediately. And, while great strides have been made in that effort, there still remains much work to do. Whether it’s addressing income inequality, education, jobs, infant mortality, poverty, or the racially disparate impact that mandatory minimum sentences have on our communities, let us never forget that our work is far from done.”

“As we celebrate the life of Dr. King, I hope each of us also recommits to fulfilling the dream he had. While Dr. King’s assassination remains a painful memory for many in Memphis and across the nation, we can each ensure that his impact on our society does not fade by giving back through community service. Change cannot be achieved unless we work together, side-by-side, to help each other. We must do all we can to be creators, not destroyers. This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, everyone can do their part to honor his legacy and help make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

“Dr. King once said ‘injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane’ of all the forms of inequality. On this National Day of Service, I hope the citizens of the Ninth District will join me from 10 a.m. to noon at the New Olivet Baptist Church for an information and volunteer training session that I am hosting in collaboration with Pastor Kenneth Whalum and the Memphis faith community. Learning more about the Affordable Care Act will allow participants to help their communities enroll and take advantage of the law’s many benefits.”