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Remembering Martin Luther King

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated forty-three years ago today.

Peter Rothberg

April 4, 2011

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated forty-three years ago today.

The speech Dr. King gave the night before he was killed was typically powerful, highly patriotic and particularly prophetic:

"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I’m happy, tonight."

 

King was killed while in Memphis defending the rights of the largely African-American sanitation workers to collectively organize. Today, the right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a middle-class life are under attack as never before.

In response, local activists coast to coast are fighting back in King’s name. Learn more about how you can join this growing movement.

Peter RothbergTwitterPeter Rothberg is the The Nation’s associate publisher.


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