Assemblyman William F. Boyland Jr.: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 11, 2013

As the most prominent and revered leader in the fight for civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a central figure in our nation’s history. In the words of the late Dr. King, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Through these words, his courage and determination, Dr. King taught a valuable and age-old lesson: Never stop fighting for what you believe in. In honor of him, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year on Jan. 21.

A man dedicated to battling social injustice, Dr. King was one of the most influential forces behind the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, inspiring non-violent action to bring the plight of black Americans to the forefront of America’s conscience. Here in New York State, Dr. King’s philosophy of rectifying inequality remains alive today in our work in the state Assembly.

On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was shot and killed by a sniper using a rifle. With just one bullet, the life of a brilliant and unparalleled civil rights leader was taken, sending shock waves through the nation. Gun violence now overruns some of our communities. We shouldn’t have to wait for high-profile shootings to push this issue to the forefront. People suffer under such violence every day. We must take action now.

New York State’s current assault weapons ban was passed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1994. Unfortunately, that law has become outdated and we need to strengthen it. The Assembly has passed sensible gun control legislation every year and stands ready to pass a comprehensive law to stop gun violence.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The richest nation on Earth has never allocated enough resources to build sufficient schools, to compensate adequately its teachers, and to surround them with the prestige our work justifies.” Nearly a half century later, his words still ring true, with funding for high-need schools woefully inadequate. In 2006, the lack of state aid to high-need schools had become so pronounced, the state’s highest court ruled that New York must provide its children with the opportunity for a sound basic education. We must continue our efforts to fulfill the CFE court decision and dramatically increase funding for our schools.

It’s also important that we help working families get ahead in this still weak economy. With the majority of our state’s wealth concentrated in the hands of very few, more and more New Yorkers have joined the ranks of the working poor. This has left many families working harder for less and struggling to make ends meet. In an effort to bring fairness to these hardworking families, the Assembly Majority has led the fight, and will continue fighting, to raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation. No one working full time should be poor and without hope.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified the true American spirit, never shying away from fighting against injustice. He was able to achieve monumental strides in the fight for equality during the Civil Rights Movement, forever changing the lives of so many Americans.

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day holds further significance, as it coincides with Presidential Inauguration Day. On Jan. 21, we will not only honor Dr. King’s legacy, we will watch the first black President of the United States take the oath for his second term in office. The day will serve as a reminder of how far our country has come, thanks in large part to insightful and steadfast leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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