The Unity Group of Chattanooga joins the global community in remembering and reflecting on the life and advocacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was tragically stricken from the world on April 4, 1968. Dr. King had been in Memphis with other civil rights workers in support of the local sanitation workers of AFSCME, who had gone on strike following the untimely deaths of co-workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker.
The workers, as symbolized by their rallying crime, I AM A MAN, were pushing for fair wages, safer working conditions, and official recognition by the city of Memphis. King himself would commend the workers on how they had been conducting the strike when he spoke before them on Feb. 12, at Mason Temple of the Church of God in Christ. Dr. King noted, “Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth. One day our society must come to see this. One day our society will come to respect the sanitation worker if it is to survive, for the person who picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is as significant as the physician, for if he doesn't do his job, diseases are rampant. All labor has dignity.” King saw the Memphis sanitation strike as emblematic of a new national initiative he was then currently launching, the Poor People’s Campaign.
Each year the National Civil Rights Museum host numerous activities that honors Dr. King’s life and legacy. This includes an official wreath laying and moment of silence at 7:01 est./6:01 CST on the balcony where Dr. King lay stricken. In honor of Dr. King, we hope that we all pause in a moment of silence during this precise moment. We also recommend following and participating in the activities sponsored by the National Civil Rights Museum that marks this solemn and sober occasion. In his memory, we all must continue to strive to build our nation and society. “Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Dr. King Quotes on Justice:
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
Unity Group of Chattanooga
Eric Atkins, Co-Chair
Rev. Dr. Charlotte S.N.N. Williams, Co-Chair
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Thank you, Chattanooga Unity Group, for your remembering one of the greatest Americans of my lifetime. It would be easy for someone to say "what about whomever?", because of what they invented, or what they discovered. I'll give them that.
However, without love, there is no peace, and without peace, there is no way for us to move forward together, regardless of what we look like on our exterior. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. understood that. I truly believe he was anointed by our Father to bring us this message. He knew that every time he was in public, he would be a target of someone who thought themselves to be more relevant.
My question is this: why is Dr. King, Jr. not studied more in our schools? It's my belief that his speeches should be studied and several of them memorized. This is a valued added approach to education, as well as society.
We can go on judging each culture or skin color by a few of any group who acts out. But that is not the higher percentage of any group who don't condone bad behavior. It will just lead to prejudice and rob you of your peace. Love is the answer.
J. Pat Williams