Hirono Commemorates 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Statement

Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

"Fifty years ago, Americans joined on the National Mall to peacefully stand up against intolerance and injustice. Together, they and the world witnessed as a preacher from Georgia stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his dream of an America where his four children would be judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character. Dr. King's message of freedom, justice and liberty for all has inspired countless people over the decades, and we will always recognize how the march furthered the push for landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

"Although today is a proud day to recognize how far our nation has come, we must acknowledge how much work we have left to fully realize Dr. King's dream. One of our first steps of many must be to protect one of our country's most fundamental freedoms -- the right to vote. We can't hesitate to restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down by the Supreme Court this summer. We must also ensure the 11 million undocumented people living in the shadows can participate in our society without fear. While there are many unresolved injustices left to face, I know that we can achieve much if ordinary people in Hawaii and across the world continue to march in their own ways to build on the work of leaders like Dr. King, Representative John Lewis and many others involved in the march half a century ago."

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