With a new president about to take office, we are entering a very uncertain time. For many, our nation appears fractured, our progress is threatened and there is real fear about what comes next. Dr. King's words above, from his 1963 book, "Strength to Love," seem prescient today. To honor his legacy, we must continue to stand up to injustice and intolerance wherever and whenever we see it, no matter how difficult it may be.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his life to fighting racial and economic injustice through peaceful demonstration. He made every one of his 39 years count by inspiring a powerful movement to advocate for equal rights. Dr. King was a true catalyst of change. Now, when we look out across America, we see a country that outlawed segregation in large part thanks to Dr. King. But we also see a country that's still struggling to achieve full equality in the face of ugly hatred and ignorance. We have the opportunity to recommit ourselves to carrying out Dr. King's vision for a more just America on Monday, Jan. 16, the nationally recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dr. King showed us there is always hope; we just need to work for it. He led the Civil Rights Movement, peacefully, for more than a decade until his assassination in 1968. One of his first major achievements was guiding a year-long bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat despite the demands of white men.[1] Although he was arrested and his home was bombed, Dr. King remained steadfast in his resolve for nonviolent protests.[2] His work continued through the '50s and '60s with books, articles and thousands of speeches advocating for equality and justice. One of his most well-known achievements was organizing the March on Washington in 1963 and giving his "I Have a Dream" speech to more than 200,000 participants. Dr. King's efforts led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which made discriminatory voting practices illegal.

As we turn to face what lies ahead, we each need to do our part to make sure our country does not move backward. As your representative in Albany, I will fight to make sure New York remains a standard-bearer of the progressive ideals that Dr. King stood for. Because every child has the right to a quality education, I'm committed to ensuring our public schools are adequately funded. I will also fight to make sure higher education is attainable for everyone, and I'll keep working so that every New Yorker has the opportunity to land a good-paying job and have decent health care.

These are the fights Dr. King took on. These are the fights we are all in together. If you have any questions or concerns about any community issue, please don't hesitate to contact my office at bichotter@nyassembly.gov or at 718-940-0428. I am always listening.

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