Remembering Martin Luther King

Speech given at rally for tenants of Lincoln Place Apartments, Venice CA.
After several years, tenants overturned illegal evictions and were allowed to return to their homes. The years old struggle continues.

We gather today remembering Martin Luther King, a name which reverberates through history. In some places his example, his will, and his legacy is perhaps felt more strongly than in others. Dr King I am sure is with us here today.
Today, here in this place it may not be an easy task to feel that we have the power to shape our destinies. It is difficult to grasp a connection between the lessons of history and the realities of the present day. Determination, unrelenting will, hope and faith are not easy to find when our most basic needs and rights are disappeared and refused.
We found ourselves here in that long and relentless struggle, a struggle which goes on despite the victories of the past, despite the heroic journey of the man we honor and remember today.
All over this country and throughout the world there are those who like us here today surely are legitimate inheritors of the principles and legacy of Dr King. In the future we will feel the power of the actions and decisions of those who have stood before power here at Lincoln Place. Stood as women and men, as citizens endowed with rights which cannot be erased by faceless decision makers and powerful economic interests.
We are connected to others throughout time and geographies, who are ignored, who’s human rights are disregarded.
Last fall I worked with Rev. Joseph Lowery, Cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King. We stood on Capitol Hill with representatives of many faiths and nations to demand an end to torture. As we prayed on the steps of the Capitol and Reverend Lowery gave us a blessing I looked through the crowd and grasped the enduring and difficult path each one of us had traveled to come together with others there at the seat of power in this nations capital. Each of us had felt alone, experienced loss, lost the elusive grasp on the power to shape our histories. All of us had experienced a dark night, had seen our rights and needs refused and had with difficulty grasped at the elusive qualities of determination of hope and faith.
But on that day we had come together and for a moment broken free above our troubled personal geographies and had a glimpse of our power, of our place in history of the meaning of our collective struggles for freedom and basic human rights. In moments such as those we are touched by grace. Here today we are also touched by this same power. The grace which carried marchers in Selma, the grace and courage that comes to those who understand that struggles for justice are often carried out by a handful of people who work against powerful forces and feel isolated and alone.
The truth is that the tenants here are not alone, they are carried by history and legacy, they are not isolated, more and more people are understanding what this struggle here means. This struggle is for all of us.