FRAEF 
 TEST TEST TEST
 TEST TEST
[  SPEAKING HEBREW ]
GRANT PEACE, GOODNESS AND 
BLESSING IN THIS WORLD.
GRACE, LOVE, AND MERCY OVER US.
AND OVER ALL YOUR PEOPLE.
[  SPEAKING HEBREW ]
BLESS US, SOURCE OF BEING, ALL 
OF US, AS ONE AMID YOUR LIGHT.
[  SPEAKING HEBREW ]
FOR BY YOUR LIGHT, SOURCE OF 
LIFE, OUR GOD, YOU GIVE US TORAH
OF LIFE, OF LOVE AND KINDNESS, 
JUSTICE, BLESSING, MERCY, LIFE 
AND PEACE.
[  SPEAKING HEBREW ]
SO MAY IT BE A GOOD THING IN 
YOUR EYES TO BLESS ALL YOUR 
PEOPLE, ISRAEL, AND ALL PEOPLES,
WITH ABUNDANT STRENGTH AND 
PEACE.
[  SPEAKING HEBREW ]
BLESSED ARE YOU COMPASSIONATE 
ONE, MAKER OF PEACE.
AND LET US ALL SAY AMEN.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE STAFF
OF DUKE UNIVERSITY CHAPEL AND 
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 
JUNIOR CELEBRATION COMMITTEE, I 
WELCOME YOU TO THE SPECIAL 
COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE, IN HONOR 
OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 
REFERENT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING 
JR.
IN JANUARY 1956 DURING THE 
MONTGOMERY BUSBOY COT, DR. KING 
RECEIVED A THREATENING PHONE 
CALL LATE AT NIGHT.
AND HE BOWED HIS HEAD AT THE 
KITCHEN TABLE AND PRAYED TO GOD.
HE SAID THAT THROUGH THIS PRAYER
HE RECEIVED INNER CALM, AND 
RECOGNIZED HOW GOD WAS ABLE TO 
GIVE HIM INTERIOR RESOURCES TO 
FACE THE STORMS AND PROBLEMS OF 
LIFE.
THUS DR. KING'S PROPHETIC WORK 
WAS ROOTED IN THE POSTURE OF 
PRAYER, REVEALED IN THE 
CONNECTION BETWEEN ACTION AND 
CONTEMPLATION.
SO TODAY IN HONOR OF DR. KING, 
LET US PRAY.
GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS, AND GOD 
OF OUR SILENT TEARS, THOU WHO 
HAST BROUGHT US THUS FAR ON THE 
WAY ALONG TO TODAY, WE COME THIS
AFTERNOON LIKE EMPTY PITCHERS TO
A FULL FOUNTAIN, WITH NO MERITS 
OF OUR OWN.
OPEN UP A WINDOW OF HEAVEN AS 
OUR REJOICING RISES HIGH AS THE 
LISTENING SKIES, IN GRATITUDE OF
THE LIVES AND WORDS OF THE 
LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR.
AS WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE HIS 
DREAM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY 
ARE LIVING A NIGHTMARE.
BECAUSE MANY STILL DON'T BELIEVE
THAT WE EXIST IN AN 
INTERCONNECTED WEB OF KNEW TALTY
IN WHICH OUR DESTINIES ARE TIDE 
TOGETHER.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE 
UNFULFILLED DREAMS AND EVEN 
SHATTERED DREAMS BECAUSE WE HAVE
NOT SEEN THE DISCORDS OF THE 
NATION TRANSFORMED INTO A 
BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF BROTHER 
HOOD AND SISTER HOOD.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE NOT 
YET SEEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN 
JOINING HANDS AND SINGING, 
BECAUSE WE STILL SEE PEOPLE 
BEING JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF 
THEIR SKIN AND NOT THE CONTENT 
OF THEIR CHARACTER.
WE EVEN CONFESSED THAT AT TIMES 
WE HAVE BECOME SILENT ABOUT 
THINGS THAT MATTER, AND OUR 
SILENCE IS A BETRAYAL.
FORGIVE US, O, GOD, AND THOUGH 
WE CONFESS THIS TRUTH IN 
BELIEVING THAT THE TRUTH WILL 
SET US FREE, WE STILL CRY OUT IN
HOPE, PRECIOUS LORD TAKE MY 
HAND.
LEAD ME ON, LED ME STAND.
I'M TIRED, I'M WEAK, I'M WORN.
BECAUSE WE STILL BELIEVE IN YOUR
DREAM FOR THE WORLD, EMBODIED 
THROUGH DR. KING.
EVEN WHILE WE LAMENT, WE HOPE.
WE DREAM.
WE DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, 
IN RECOGNITION THAT NOTHING IS 
IMPOSSIBLE WITH YOU, OUR 
CREATOR.
WE DREAM A WORLD OF PEACE, 
JUSTICE, LOVE, AND MERCY.
A WORLD WHERE THESE VIRTUES 
WOULD ROLL DOWN LIKE WATERS AND 
EVER-FLOWING STREAMS.
GIVE US THE COURAGE TO HOPE AND 
TO HOLD FAST TO DREAMS, THAT 
WHERE THERE IS HATRED WE WOULD 
SO LOVE, AND WHERE THERE IS 
INJURY WE WOULD SO PARDON, AND 
WHERE THERE IS DOUBT, WE WOULD 
SOW FAKT AND WHERE THERE IS 
DEPAIR, HOPE.
AND WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, 
LIGHT.
AND WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY,
THAT WE MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK TO 
CONSOLE AS TO CONSOLE.
THAT WE MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK TO 
BE UNDERSTOOD AS TO UNDERSTAND.
THAT WE MAY NOT SO MUCH SEEK TO 
BE LOVED AS TO LOVE.
FOR WE KNOW THAT HATE CANNOT 
DRIVE OUT HATE.
ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.
ONLY LOVE CAN CAST OUT THE FEAR 
IN OUR HEARTS.
LET NOTHING SEPARATE US FROM 
YOUR LOVE.
THAT WE MIGHT BE AGENTS OF LOVE 
IN THE WORLD.
THAT THERE MIGHT BE PEACE ON 
EARTH BEGINNING WITH US.
SO AMID THE NIGHTMARISH 
REALITIES OF OUR CURRENT DAY, 
MAY YOUR DREAM COME TRUE SUCH 
THAT EARTH AND HEAVEN RING WITH 
THE HARMONIES OF LIBERTY, 
ENABLING US TO FACE THE RISING 
SUN OF A NEW DAY BEGUN AND TO 
HONESTLY TRUTHLY AND JUBILANTLY 
SING THE WORDS, FREE AT LEAST, 
FREE AT LAST.
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE 
AT LAST.
AND ALL OF 
GOD'S PEOPLE SAID AMEN.
>> REVEREND KING WAS A PROPHETIC
WITNESS WHO INSPIRED PEOPLE 
ACROSS MANY TRADITIONS.
ABOVE OF RELIGIOUS AT DUKE AND 
DUKE VOICES FOR INTERFAITH 
ACTION, WE LIGHT THIS CANDLE AS 
A REMINDER THAT GOD'S LIGHT CAN 
SHINE THROUGH ANY ANGUISH, AND 
AS WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO 
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH 
OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE, WE ARE
REMINDED TO CONTINUE TO CARRY 
THE LIGHT OF PEACE, HOPE AND 
JUSTICE IN THIS
WORLD.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR. COMMEMORATION 
COMMITTEE I WELCOME YOU HERE 
THIS EVENING.
I WELCOME YOU TO THE ANNUAL 
COMMEMORATION OF THE LIFE AND 
LEGACY OF DR. KING.
THE COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE THIS
YEAR HAS CHOSEN THE THEME "FROM 
KING TO KAEPERNICK, PROGRESS 
THROUGH PROTEST."
AND THIS THEME RECOGNIZES THE 
NECESSARY ACTIVISM ON THE PART 
OF ALL OF US.
THIS THEME RECOGNIZES THE POWER 
OF NON-VIOLENT PROTEST.
TO HIGHLIGHT THE POWER TO 
AMPLIFY THE OVERT, THE IMPLICIT,
THE SYSTEMIC, AND OFTEN 
STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES IN OUR 
NATION.
FROM MONTGOMERY TO BIRMINGHAM, 
TO ALBANY, GEORGIA, TO SELMA, TO
THE ATHLETIC FIELDS ACROSS OUR 
NATION.
THE POWER OF PROTEST SHINES A 
LIGHT FORWARD.
IN THE WORDS OF DR. KING, WE WHO
ENGAGE IN NON-VIOLENT DIRECTION 
ACTION ARE NOT THE CREATORS OF 
TENSION.
WE MERELY BRING TO THE SURFACE 
THE HIDDEN TENSION THAT IS 
ALREADY ALIVE.
SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO 
TURN THE TENSION INTO FORCEFUL, 
CONSTRUCTIVE STEPS THAT MOVE US 
FORWARD.
TOWARDS THAT BELOVED COMMUNITY 
THAT DR. KING SO FREQUENTLY AND 
ELOQUENTLY SPOKE OF.
SO I WELCOME YOU TO THE 2018 DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING 
COMMEMORATION.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE, MY 
GREAT PLEASURE, TO INTRODUCE THE
PRESIDENT OF DUKE UNIVERSITY.
DR. VINCENT E. PRICE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AS PRESIDENT OF DUKE 
UNIVERSITY, IT IS MY GREAT HONOR
TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS HISTORIC 
CHAPEL FOR A CELEBRATION OF THE 
LIFE OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR.
WE GATHER TODAY AS WELL TO 
CELEBRATE THE TRAILBLAZING 
LEGACY OF DR. SAMUEL DUBOIS 
COOK.
DUKE AETION FIRST 
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSOR WHO 
PASSED AWAY IN MAY.
I'M ALSO HONORED TO WELCOME OUR 
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
OUR COLLEAGUE AND MAYOR, OUR 
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND 
TODAY'S SPEAKER, SHERRILYN 
IFILL, THE PRESIDENT AND 
DIRECTOR COUNSEL OF THE NAACP 
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION 
FUND.
WE ARE OF COURSE NOT ALONE IN 
THIS IMPORTANT COMMEMORATION.
EVERY JANUARY WE JOIN A GREAT 
FELLOWSHIP OF TOWNS AND CITIES, 
SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, 
CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES OF
FAITH, AND FAMILIES AND 
INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE WORLD IN 
REMEMBERING DR. KING'S ABIDING 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO JUSTICE AND 
EQUALITY.
INDEED, THIS CELEBRATION MARKS 
THE PASSAGE OF TIME AT DUKE.
COMING AS IT DOES AFTER SO MANY 
COMMEMORATIONS OVER THE YEARS, 
AND HERE IN THIS HISTORIC CHAPEL
WE HAVE HOSTED SUCH LUMINARIES 
OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS 
AMBASSADOR YOUNG, HARRY 
BELAFONTE, MAYA ANGELOU AND THE 
REVEREND JOSEPH LOWERY.
AND BEYOND THE WALLS, 
GENERATIONS OF DUKE'S STUDENTS 
FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE JOINED 
TOGETHER EACH YEAR TO DO SERVICE
IN DURHAM AND THE SURROUNDING 
REGION.
BUT THESE EVENTS DON'T SIMPLY 
MARK THE PASSAGE OF TIME.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO REFLECT ON THE PROGRESS WE'VE
MADE TOWARD DR. KING'S VISION OF
EQUALITY.
THEY SERVE AS A REMINDER OF OUR 
RESPONSIBILITY TO RESIST THE 
FORCES OF HATRED AND DIVISION 
THAT ARE NOT YET FULLY 
VANQUISHED.
A REMINDER THAT ONLY THROUGH 
EMPATHY, RIGHTEOUS WITNESS, AND 
A CONVICTION TO LEARN FROM THE 
PAST CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE ARC 
OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE BENDS EVER
CLOSER TO JUSTICE.
THIS YEAR, THAT REMINDER HOLDS 
PARTICULAR RESONANCE FOR THE 
DUKE COMMUNITY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 
ENGAGED OVER THESE PAST FEW 
MONTHS IN A DIFFICULT BUT 
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT 
OUR UNIVERSITY HISTORY.
A CONVERSATION INFORMED BY DR. 
KING'S EXAMPLE, AND THE STRUGGLE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
LED BY A COMMISSION ON MEMORY 
AND HISTORY, WE HAVE COME 
TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO 
REFLECT ON OUR PAST AND TO TAKE 
FORMAL STEPS TO BUILD TOWARD A 
MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE.
WE HAVE ADOPTED NEW PRINCIPLES 
OR ENGAGING WITH CONTROVERSY AND
INJUSTICE IN DUKE'S HISTORY.
THAT CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE 
THIS SPRING AND BEYOND.
WITH EXHIBITIONS, PANEL 
DISCUSSIONS AND COMMUNITY 
EVENTS.
AND WE WILL PROUDLY OPEN A NEW 
RESEARCH CENTER TO ADDRESS 
DISPARITIES IN CLINICAL CARE.
WE HAVE ALSO RENEWED OUR 
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO 
DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF ALL OF 
OUR FELLOW STUDENTS, FACULTY, 
STAFF AND NEIGHBORS, TO 
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN UNIVERSITY 
LIFE, IN ACCORDANCE AND 
ALIGNMENT WITH OUR ABIDING 
VALUES OF SERVICE, LEARNING AND 
FAITH.
THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE NEVER 
BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.
AS WE HAVE WITNESSED, THE TRAGIC
VIOLENCE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, THE
SHOCKING REVIVAL OF WHITE 
SUPREMACY.
THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN DOWNTOWN 
DURHAM AND EVENTS AT THIS VERY 
CHAPEL.
MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT 
DR. KING VISITED OUR CAMPUS IN 
1964.
AND GAVE A SPEECH IN PAGE 
AUDITORIUM RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
THE DUKE OF DR. KING'S VISIT WAS
STILL IN THE VICE GRIP OF A 
SEGREGATIONIST SOUTH.
I'VE EVEN BEEN TOLD THAT HE 
SPOKE AT PAGE ONLY AFTER HE WAS 
DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH
FROM THIS PULPIT.
BUT BECAUSE OF HIS VISION AND 
HIS LABOR, AND WITH THE SUPPORT 
AND STRUGGLE OF MANY LIKE HIM, 
PROGRESS WAS ALREADY UNDER WAY.
JUST A YEAR BEFORE HIS VISIT, 
THE UNIVERSITY HAD ADMITTED THE 
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN 
UNDERGRADUATES, BREAKING THE 
POLICY OF DISCRIMINATION THAT 
HAD GOVERNED OUR ADMISSIONS 
SINCE THIS INSTITUTION'S 
FOUNDING.
OVER THE INTERVENING DECADES, 
THROUGH YEARS OF TENSION AND 
PROTEST, WE WOULD BEGIN TO BUILD
A UNIVERSITY THAT LIVES UP TO 
OUR VALUES.
WE WOULD ENDEAVOR TO LEARN FROM 
THE PAST.
AND TO MARK THE PASSAGE OF TIME 
WITH CONFIDENT STEPS TOWARD 
JUSTICE.
AT DUKE, DR. KING REPEATED A 
REFRAIN FROM HIS SPEECHES 
THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH, FROM 
BIRMINGHAM TO RICHMOND.
THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO 
WHAT IS RIGHT.
TODAY'S CELEBRATION COMES AS WE 
AT DUKE ARE TAKING ACTION TO 
CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS TOWARD THE
FUTURE DR. KING WANTED.
THAT PROGRESS ISN'T EASY, AND WE
MAY LOSE OUR FOOTING FROM TIME 
TO TIME OR LOSE GROUND ALONG THE
WAY.
BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO STEP 
FORWARD FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, MOVING
TOWARD A COMMUNITY THAT CAN BE 
AN EXAMPLE TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND 
TO THE WORLD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY FRIENDS, ON BEHALF OF THE 
CITY OF DURHAM, I BRING 
GREETINGS ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY 
IN DUKE CHAPEL.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY A WORD TO 
PRESIDENT PRICE.
PRESIDENT PRICE, I HAVE TWO 
DEGREES FROM DUKE.
I TEACH AT DUKE.
AND AS A LOYAL DUKE ALUMNUS AND 
AS MAYOR OF DURHAM, I WANT TO 
OFFER MY THANKS TO YOU FOR YOUR 
PROMPT AND BOLD ACTION TO REMOVE
THE DAMAGED STATUE OF ROBERT E. 
LEE FROM THE
CHAPEL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MY FRIENDS, ISN'T IT A 
COMPELLING MOMENT TO BE GATHERED
HERE AT THIS CHAPEL ON MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR. DAY, WHERE THIS 
CHAPEL ITSELF HAS BECOME A SITE 
OF STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY.
I CAME TO DUKE IN 1969 FROM 
VIRGINIA.
MY PARENTS WERE CIVIL RIGHTS 
LIBERALS BUT I WAS DEFINITELY 
STEEPED IN THE CULTURE OF THE 
LOST CAUSE AT THE SAME TIME.
I CELEBRATED MOST OF MY 
BIRTHDAYS ON THE BATTLE FIELDS 
AT APP MATUX AND IN MY BEDROOM 
WAS A PAINTING OF STONEWALL 
JACKSON.
AND YET I KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, 
THAT THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS 
ACROSS THE SOUTH MUSZ COME DOWN.
--
MUST COME DOWN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THEY ARE A PUBLIC GLORIFICATION 
OF THE DEFENDERS OF SLAVERY, AND
WE CANNOT LET THAT STAND.
SO I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE 
EMOTIONS THAT LED PEOPLE TO 
DAMAGE THE STATUE OF LEE RIGHT 
HERE, AND TO PULL DOWN THE 
CONFEDERATE MONUMENT OUTSIDE THE
OLD COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN 
DURHAM NOT LONG AGO.
AS MY FRIEND IN THE SANFORD 
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY WROTE TO
ME RECENTLY, THE REMOVAL OF THE 
CONFEDERATE STATUE IN DURHAM 
FEELS LIKE A BOLD PUSHBACK 
AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY AND 
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN 
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
I AGREE.
BUT I ALSO DEEPLY FEEL THE NEED 
FOR A PEACEFUL WAY FORWARD, THAT
INVOLVES OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN
THIS WORK THAT DOESN'T JUST 
CONFRONT PEOPLE, BUT THAT ALSO 
EDUCATES THEM.
AND BRINGS THEM ALONG WITH US.
SO DOES THE WAY FORWARD FROM 
HERE.
I ADMIRE THE PROCESS VERY MUCH 
THAT DUKE HAS INITIATED, AND LET
ME TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING 
TO BE DOING IN DURHAM.
IN 2015, OUR STATE LEGISLATION 
PASSED A LAW WHICH TAKES AWAY 
DURHAM'S RIGHT TO MAKE OUR OWN 
COMMUNITY DECISIONS ABOUT 
MONUMENTS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
IT'S TRUE, HOWEVER, THAT BEFORE 
THIS RECENT LEGISLATION, DURHAM 
HAD NOT EVEN BEGUN TO FACE UP TO
THE MEMORIALS TO THE CONFEDERACY
THAT ARE STILL IN OUR MIDST, 
WHETHER THEY BE STATUES OR 
STRAIGHT NAMES OR PUBLIC 
PROPERTY OR BUILT INTO THE FRONT
DOOR OF DUKE CHAPEL.
DURHAM IS ON THE PROGRESSIVE 
EDGE OF SO MUCH, BUT WE HAVE NOT
LED THE WAY ON THIS ISSUE WITH 
THE KIND OF THOUGHTFUL, 
INCLUSIVE PROCESS THAT SOME 
COMMUNITIES HAVE INITIATED.
SO NOW WE'RE GETTING STARTED.
FIRST WE'RE INITIATING A 
TRANSPARENT INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY 
PROCESS TO EXAMINE ALL 
HISTORICAL REMNANTS PUBLICLY 
MEMORIALIZING SLAVERY IN DURHAM.
TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO IN EACH 
CASE ARE THE STREET NAMES THAT 
NEED TO BE CHANGED, STATUES THAT
NEED TO BE REMOVED MOVED OR 
CONTEXTUALIZED IN A HISTORY 
MUSEUM, THE OBJECT NEEDS TO BE 
EASE OF PAIN OF NEIGHBORS.
WE MUST CENTER THEIR VOICES AND 
LIVE UP TO DURHAM'S HIGHEST 
IDEALS.
SECOND, WE WILL TAKE THE CASE 
FOR REMOVAL OF THESE MONUMENTS 
TO THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL
COMMISSION WHICH MUST APPROVE 
THESE REMOVALS JDS THE STATE 
LAW.
MAKE NO MISTAKE.
THIS STATE LAW IS MEANT TO 
DEFEND THE CONFEDERATE STATUES 
AND INHIBIT A CITY LIKE DURHAM.
BUT THIS IS THE PROCESS.
ONCE DURHAM HAS DECIDED ON A 
COURSE, IF NECESSARY WE WILL 
TAKE OUR CASE TO THE HISTORIC 
COMMISSION, WE WILL BE THERE IN 
GREAT NUMBERS, PEACEFUL BUT 
RESOLVED.
I'LL BE THERE TO SPEAK OUT, AND 
I HOPE YOU WILL BE THERE TOO.
THIRD, WE WILL THINK AS A 
COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT NEW 
MONUMENTS WE DO WANT TO ERECT.
ARE THERE HEROS IN DURHAM'S 
HISTORY WHO DESERVE A MEMORIAL 
IN THEIR HONOR.
WHOM SHOULD WE HONOR IN THE 
PLACE OF THE STATUE THAT CAME 
DOWN.
HOW CAN OUR PUBLIC MEMORIALS 
REFLECT OUR CIVIC VALUES AND 
HONOR THE BEST IN OUR PAST.
FOURTH, WE MUST DO THE THINGS 
THAT REALLY MATTER ON A DAILY 
BASIS TO COUNTER THE EFFECTS OF 
SLAVERY AND JIM CROW WHICH 
REMAIN WITH US STILL.
LET'S APPLY A RACIAL EQUITY LENS
TO ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENT 
DECISIONS AS I AND MY COLLEAGUES
STRIVE TO DO NOW.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT POLICIES 
AND BUDGETS RELATING TO SCHOOLS,
HOUSING, POLICING AND JOBS KEEP 
RACIAL EQUITY AT THE FOREFRONT.
ON THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 
DAY 50 YEARS AFTER HIS 
ASSASSINATION, THAT IS WHAT WE 
ARE PLEDGED TO DO IN DURHAM.
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF 
DURHAM, I BRING GREETINGS TO ALL
ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY IN THIS 
HOLY CHAPEL, MADE HOLIER THIS 
YEAR AS A SITE OF CONSCIENCE IN 
THE LONG STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL 
JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AS PRESIDENT OF DUKE HOSPITAL, 
ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM AND
ALL OF DUKE HEALTH, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE 
TODAY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU 
FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE WITH 
YOU TODAY TO JOIN YOU AS WE 
HONOR THE MEMORY OF DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR.
IT'S A CHANCE FOR US TO COME 
TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY
HOW FAR WE'VE COME, BUT ALSO HOW
WE AS INDIVIDUALS AND A 
COMMUNITY MUST STRIVE TO DO 
MORE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S A VERY 
INTERESTING TIME FOR US AS A 
NATION.
A TIME WHEN OUR CONNECTEDNESS AS
A PEOPLE IS BEING TESTED.
A TIME WHEN HATRED HAS CREPT UP 
OUT OF HIDING TO STAND TALL AND 
SPEAK BOLDLY.
AS A PARENT, TEACHER, NOW AS A 
LEADER AT HEALTH CARE IN DUKE 
HOSPITAL, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND 
IT'S A TIME WHEN WE'RE ALL 
STRUGGLING WITH VERY DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATIONS.
WHETHER AT THE DINNER TABLE AT 
NIGHT WITH OUR FAMILY, ON 
TEACHING ROUNDS AS A PHYSICIAN 
AND FACULTY MEMBER AT DUKE 
WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND 
PATIENTS, OR AS A LEADER IN 
MEETINGS WITH STAFF AND MANAGERS
AND OTHERS.
WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH FEELINGS 
OF DIVISION AND LOSS.
WITH MISUNDERSTANDING AND FEAR.
AS I'VE THOUGHT VERY DEEPLY 
ABOUT THIS, NOT ONLY WITH MY 
TRANSITION INTO THIS NEW ROLE, 
BUT OVER THE PAST YEARS -- PAST 
YEAR, EXCUSE ME -- I'VE COME TO 
BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR US AT DUKE
AS A COMMUNITY, AND AS LEADERS, 
MENTORS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS, 
TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE JUST AS 
MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO HEAL AND 
SHAPE HEARTS AS WE HAVE TO MOLD
MOVE AWAY FROM DESTRUCTIVE HATE 
TO CONSTRUCTIVE LOVE.
IN PREPARING FOR MY REMARKS 
TODAY, I REFLECTED ON THOSE 
MOMENTS THIS WEEK WHICH HAVE 
LEFT ME MOST MOVED TO ACT AS A 
LEADER.
MOST MOVED TO DO SOMETHING MORE 
FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.
AND THE MOMENTS WHICH HAVE 
HELPED ME FIND GREATER JOY AND 
MEANING.
WHICH, IN ADDITION TO ACTION AND
LEADERSHIP, ARE NECESSARY FOR US
TO SUSTAIN THE ENERGY AND THE 
ENERGY AND THE MOMENTUM WE NEED 
TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I REALIZED THE TREMENDOUS 
IMPACT OF SO MANY EXPERIENCES, 
INCLUDING A CELEBRATION OF OUR 
TEAM MEMBERS THIS PAST WEEK, WHO
HAVE GIVEN BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
AND REALLY INNOVATIVE AND 
REMARKABLE WAYS.
WE CELEBRATED THEM WITH OUR DUKE
HOSPITAL MARTIN LUTHER KING 
COMMUNITY CAREGIVER AWARD 
LUNCHEON.
IT MOVED ME NOT ONLY TO TEARS 
BUT TO THE POINT OF GREATER 
ACTION.
I HAD ACTIONS THIS WEEK WITH 
LEARNERS AROUND DUKE AS WE'RE 
HELPING THEM FIND DIRECTION 
WHETHER IN HEALTH CARE OR IN 
OTHER ASPECTS, WE HAVE A 
REMARKABLE COMMUNITY HERE THAT'S
SEEKING TO FIND GREATER WAYS TO 
GIVE BACK, NOT ONLY TO LEARN, 
BUT TO PREPARE THEMSELVES TO 
LEAD AND CHANGE.
BUT PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY AS 
I WAS THINKING THROUGH THESE 
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I FOUND 
THE DAILY INTERACTIONS WITH OUR 
TEAM WITH OUR PATIENTS, OUR 
COMMUNITY, WHETHER DEMONSTRATING
A CARING TOUCH IN THE TIME OF 
SORROW, CELEBRATING JOY IN A 
REMARKABLE RECOVERY OR 
EXPRESSING HOPE AND ATTITUDE TO 
OTHERS.
THESE MEMENTS HELPED ME 
UNDERSTAND MY ROLE AS A LEADER, 
OUR ROLES AS LEADER IN THE 
COMMUNITY AND THE NEED TO DO 
MORE.
I BELIEVE IT IS AS DR. KING 
SAID: THOSE WHO ARE NOT LOOKING 
FOR HAPPINESS ARE THE MOST 
LIKELY TO FIND IT, BECAUSE THOSE
WHO ARE SEARCHING FORGET THAT 
THE SUREST WAY TO BE HAPPY IS TO
FIND HAPPINESS IN OTHERS.
JUST AS MAYOR SHEWEL AND 
PRESIDENT PRICE SAID, THIS IS A 
TIME FOR US TO SERVE.
A TIME TO FIND INSPIRATION FROM 
THOSE AROUND US.
TO BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT AND 
FIND MEANING IN THE EVERY DAY 
INTERACTIONS THAT WE MUST 
CELEBRATE.
ANOTHER OF MY FAVORITE 
STATEMENTS FROM DR. KING RELATES
LOVE'S POWER TO TRIUMPH OVER 
HATE.
HE SAID AT THE CENTER OF 
NON-VIOLENCE STANDS THE 
PRINCIPLE OF LOVE.
I BELIEVE WHEN WE REALIZE EVERY 
ACTION, EVERY CONVERSATION, 
EVERY MOMENT WE SPEND IN THE 
PRESENCE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING 
IS IMPORTANT, THAT'S A 
LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT.
THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVER THE JOY 
IN BEING PRESENT, AND LIVING 
LIVES BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF 
LOVE.
SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR 
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE IN THIS 
MOMENT WITH ALL OF YOU, AND I 
HOPE THAT TODAY YOU'LL FIND 
ADDITIONAL JOY AND MEANING AS I 
KNOW I WILL AND TAKE THAT 
FORWARD IN OUR LIVES TO MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU ALL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL IVORY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK 
STUDENT ALLIANCE, SENIOR.
AS WE GATHER IN COMMEMORATION OF
THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. KING,
I CANNOT HELP BUT ACKNOWLEDGE 
HOW APT THIS OCCASION IS.
THE STORY OF DR. KING'S LIFE IS 
IN MANY WAYS A STORY OF GREAT 
TRIUMPH.
IT IS ALSO A LESSON ON THE TRUE 
NATURE OF JUSTICE, WHERE TRUE 
JUSTICE DOES NOT SIMPLY QUELL 
ISOLATED INSTANCES OF INJUSTICE.
TRUE JUSTICE TRANSFORMS.
IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE 
STATUS QUO IF THE STATUS QUO IS 
TOLERANT OF OPPRESSION AND 
VIOLENCE.
THE ADVENT OF JUSTICE APPEARS 
WHEN LAW AND ORDER ARE NOT 
WEAPONS AGAINST HUMAN DIGNITY.
AND SUCH IS THE SOUL OF THE 
MOVEMENT FROM WHICH DR. KING 
AROSE.
AS WE SIT IN THIS CHAPEL IN 
REVERENCE OF JUSTICE, WE SIT 
ALSO IN REVERENCE OF THE TRULY 
RADICAL WORK THAT MADE SUCH A 
DAY AS THIS ONE POSSIBLE.
AS WE SIT IN THIS CHAPEL IN REF 
REFERENCE OF THIS MAN, WE SIT 
ALSO IN REVERENCE OF ACTIVISM.
WE SIT IN REVERENCE OF THE POOR,
WHO BIRTHED THE KNOWLEDGE THAT 
SHAPES OUR COLLECTIVE ASKETION.
WE SIT IN REVERENCE OF THE WORK 
OF THOSE WHO WORK IN THIS 
TRADITION AND TO HONOR THE EM 
SARRYES OF TRANSFORMATIVE 
JUSTICE THAT BEAT THE PAVEMENT, 
SANG SONGS, AND FILLED JAIL 
CELLS BOTH THEN AND TODAY.
AND AS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF 
JUSTICE CONTINUES TO GROW, WE 
THEN RECOGNIZE TO BE JUSTICE 
WHERE WE WERE NOT YET LOOKING.
I AM NOT REMISS IN SAYING THAT 
IT IS APPROPRIATE TO HONOR DR. 
KING BY NAMING AND HONORING 
PEOPLE SUCH AS PAULY MURRAY, 
CLAW 
DETTE COVEN AND MARSHA P. 
JOHNSON.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE TRADITION OF
THE ACTIVISTS OF THE CIVIL 
RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND AFTER, SOME 
OF WHOM WERE MEN BUT MANY OF 
WHOM WERE NOT, IS ONE THAT 
SPEAKS BACK TO RACISM, AS WELL 
AS MISOGYNY, HOME PHOBIA, AND 
ALL OTHER FORMS OF INJUSTICE.
IN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IT IS MY 
DEAR PLEASURE TO JOIN YOU ALL IN
CELEBRATING THIS DAY AS WE TAKE 
IN THIS MOMENT, LET US BE MOVED 
TO INSPIRATION, ACTION, AND A 
LOVE THAT FIGHTS AS WELL AS
COMFORTS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪♪ ♪ YOU'RE THE HEALER WHO MAKES
ALL THINGS NEW ♪ ♪ YEAH YEAH ♪ 
I'M NOT GOING BACK, MOVING 
AHEAD ♪ ♪ TO DECLARE YOU MY PAST
IS OVER AND YOU ♪ ♪ THINGS ARE 
MADE NEW SURRENDER MY LIFE TO 
CHRIST ♪ ♪ I'M MOVING
FORWARD ♪
♪ WHOA ♪ YOU HAVE RISEN WITH ALL
POWER IN YOUR HAND ♪ ♪ YOU HAVE 
GIVEN ME A SECOND 
CHANCE ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH YEAH YEAH 
YEAH ♪ ♪
THE PAST IS OVER ♪ SURRENDER MY 
LIFE TO CHRIST MOVING NOT GOING 
BACK ♪ MOVING AHEAD, HERE TO 
DECLARE TO YOU THE PAST IS OVER 
IN YOU ♪ ♪ THINGS MADE NEW, 
SURRENDER MY LIFE TO CHRIST 
MOVING, GROOVING 
FORWARD ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> MY NAME IS MELANIE WALKER 
AND A SECOND YEAR STUDENT AT 
DUKE LAW PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK 
GRAD PROFESSIONAL AN STUDENT 
ASSOCIATION.
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO 
INTRODUCE SHERRILYN IFILL.
FROM THE START OF HER CAREER, 
MISS IFILL HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO
FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS IN 
AMERICA AND TO RACIAL JUSTICE 
EDUCATION.
AFTER RECEIVING HER JD FROM THE 
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF 
LAW, SHE COMPLETED A YEAR 
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE ACLU.
FROM THERE, SHE JOINED THE NAACP
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND'S NEW YORK 
OFFICE WHERE SHE LITIGATED 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT CASES.
AMONG HER SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION 
WAS THE LANDMARK VOTING RIGHTS 
ACT CASE HOUSTON LAWYERS 
ASSOCIATION VERSUS ATTORNEY 
GENERAL OF TEXAS, IN WHICH THE 
SUPREME COURT HELD THAT THE 
JUDICIAL ELECTIONS ARE COVERED 
BY THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 2 
OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
AFTER FIVE YEARS, MISS IFILL 
LEFT TO JOIN THE FACULTY OF THE 
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF
LAW, WHERE, IN ADDITION TO 
TEACHING CIVIL PROCEDURE AND 
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND A VARIETY
OF SEMINARS, SHE CONTINUED TO 
LITIGATE AND CONSULT ON A BROAD 
AND DIVERSE RANGE OF CIVIL 
RIGHTS CASES.
IN ADDITION TO TEACHING IN THE 
CLASSROOM, SHE LAUNCHED SEVERAL 
INNOVATIVE LEGAL COURSES WHILE 
AT MARYLAND LAW SCHOOL, 
INCLUDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL 
JUSTICE COURSE, IN WHICH 
STUDENTS REPRESENTED RURAL 
COMMUNITIES IN MARYLAND, AND ONE
OF THE FIRST LEGAL CLINICS IN 
THE NATION FOCUSED ON REMOVING 
LEGAL BARRIERS TO FORMERLY 
INCARCERATED PERSONS SEEKING TO 
RESPONSIBLY REENTER SOCIETY.
MISS IFILL IS ALSO A CRITICALLY 
ACCLAIMED AUTHOR.
IN 2011 SHE PUBLISHED ON THE 
COURTHOUSE LAWN, CONFRONTING THE
LEGACY OF LYNCHING IN THE 21ST 
CENTURY.
HER BOOK REFLECTS HER LIFE-LONG 
ENGAGEMENT IN AND ANALYSIS OF 
RACIAL ISSUES AND AMERICAN 
PUBLIC LIFE.
IN 2012, MISS IFILL WAS NAMED 
THE SEVENTH PRESIDENT AND 
DIRECTOR COUNSEL OF THE NAACP 
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION 
FUND.
AS PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR 
COUNSEL, SHE HAS LED THE 
ORGANIZATION IN LITIGATING 
SELLBY VERSUS HOLDER AND FISHER 
VERSUS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN 
2016.
MISS IFILL HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL 
AWARDS FOR HER CIVIL RIGHTS 
WORK.
IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING AT NEW 
YORK UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION 
CEREMONIES, BOTH UNIVERSITIES 
AWARDED HER WITH HONORARY 
DEGREES.
SHE HAS APPEARED ON CNN, NBC, 
ABC, C-SPAN, NATIONAL PUBLIC 
RADIO AND WAS A CONTRIBUTOR TO 
THE ROOT.
SHE SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR FOR 
THE U.S. PROGRAMS FOR OPEN 
SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS FROM 2011 TO
2013.
AFTERWARDS MOVING TO SERVE ON 
THE ORKIZATION'S BOARD.
SHE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARD
OF EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS, THE 
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER, 
THE LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE 
AND THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S LAW 
CENTER.
THROUGH ALL THESE 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IT IS CLEAR, 
MISS IFILL EMBODIES THE
PRINCIPLES THAT DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING FOUGHT FOR AND THAT 
COLIN KAEPERNICK CONTINUES TO 
FIGHT FOR.
PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE WELCOME 
MISS SHERRILYN IFILL TO THE DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 
CELEBRATION SERVICE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WAS JUST ACTUALLY ENJOYING THE
PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GET UP TO 
SPEAK.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THESE 
WONDERFUL REMARKS AND WONDERFUL 
PRESENTATIONS.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU.
I'M JUST DELIGHTED TO BE HERE 
WITH YOU TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE
AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER 
KING.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING SO 
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT 
POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE HERE 
TODAY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS DR. 
BENJAMIN REESE WHO EXTENDED THE 
INVITATION TO COME TODAY AND I 
ALSO WANT TO THANK SHARON THE 
PROGRAM COORDINATOR WHO REALLY 
PROVIDED ALL THE ASSISTANCE WE 
NEEDED TO ORGANIZE MY STAY HERE.
I WANT TO GREET MAYOR SHEWEL AND
THANK HIM FOR THAT EXTRAORDINARY
SPEECH AND SET OF REMARKS.
PRESIDENT PRICE, WHO HASN'T BEEN
HERE LONG, BUT HE HAS MADE A 
DIFFERENCE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS 
LEADERSHIP AND FOR HIS WARM 
WELCOME.
ALL OF THE STUDENT LEADERS, 
MELANIE AND MICHAEL, WHO SPOKE 
AND WHO REPRESENT OUR FUTURE, 
AND WHOSE PECULIARITY SHOULD 
CONVICT US TO DO BETTER.
AND ALL OF THE PERFORMERS TODAY 
WHO INSPIRED US, THE DANCERS AND
THE DRUMMERS AND THE KNEW 
SITUATIONS WHO JUST PERFORMED 
AND WHO LIFTED OUR HEARTS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK RABBI 
FRIEDMAN AND REALLY WANT TO 
THANK REVEREND POWRY FOR HIS 
REMARKS AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY 
INVOCATION.
WHICH REALLY SET THE MOOD.
YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, REVEREND 
POWRY, BUT MY LONG-TIME PASTOR 
AND FRIEND KNOWS THAT I SPEAK 
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND I DO IT
SO MUCH THAT I'M QUITE 
COMFORTABLE SPEAKING PUBLICLY, 
EXCEPT WHEN I STAND IN 
SOMEBODY'S PULPIT AND THEN I GET
NERVOUS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR 
ALLOWING ME TO TAKE IT AT THE 
SACRED DESK.
I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE IN A HOUSE OF FAITH 
AND SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE 
ISSUES TO WHICH I HAVE DEVOTED 
MY LIFE.
SO YES.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I LOOK 
FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND EVERY 
YEAR, BECAUSE FOR ME IT REALLY 
SETS AND FRAMES THE BEGINNING OF
MY YEAR.
IT COMPELS ME TO PAUSE, DESPITE 
ALL THE CRAZINESS GOING ON AND 
STOP AND HONOR THE WORK OF THE 
GREAT AMERICAN.
AND EVERY YEAR IN THE DAYS 
BEFORE KING DAY, I SPEND TIME 
LISTENING TO HIS SPEECHES, I 
HAVE A NICE BOX SET OF CDs IN 
READING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HE 
FACED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF 
HIS WORK.
AND EVERY YEAR I LEARN SOMETHING
NEW, SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES 
FOOD AND FUEL FOR MY OWN WORK 
AND ENCOURAGES ME TO KEEP 
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, EQUALITY 
AND PEACE.
BUT EVEN THE DAY ITSELF, THE 
FACT THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING 
AS MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY AND 
WEEKEND WHEN CITIES AND 
UNIVERSITIESES AND ELECTED 
OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY CHURCHES
AND SYNAGOGUES AND MOSQUES PAUSE
TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF DR. 
KING AND THE WORK OF CIVIL 
RIGHTS, THAT IS ITS OWN 
EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE ACTIVISM AND TENACITY FOR 
THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR THE HOLIDAY
IS A TESTAMENT TO OF GRASS ROOTS
ACTIVISM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF 
MOBILIZING, ALSO TO DEMAND THE 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR HISTORY 
AND OF OUR GREATEST HEROS.
AS DR. REESE SAID, I LEAD THE 
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, WHICH 
IS A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION FROM 
THE NAACP.
WE WERE ONCE THE SAME 
ORGANIZATION.
WE SPLIT IN 1957.
OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FUNDED IN 
-- FOUNDED IN 1940 BY THURGOOD 
MARSHALL AND LED BY HEM FOR MANY
YEARS.
IT A STRATEGIC WORK AIMED AT 
USING THE LAW AND COURTS TO END 
AMERICAN APARTHEID AND TO 
ACHIEVE RACIAL JUSTICE AND 
EQUALITY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
IT MATTERS IT WAS CREATED BY 
BLACK LAWYERS INITIALLY.
OUR STAFF IS MULTIRACIAL BUT IT 
MATTERS THAT IN 1940 BLACK 
LAWYERS CREATED THE 
ORGANIZATION.
ITS VERY EXISTENCE AT THE TIME 
WAS A STATEMENT ABOUT THE POWER 
OF BLACK INTELLECTUALS AND 
PROFESSIONALISM.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE HIRED,
I CAN TELL YOU, AS AN LDF 
LAWYER.
BECAUSE AS I ALWAYS SAID SAY.
LDF HAVE TO BE WRITERS AND 
RESEARCHERS AND BRILLIANT 
LITIGATORS, BUT THAT'S THE EASY 
PART.
LDF LAWYERS ALSO HAVE TO BE AS 
COMFORTABLE, ELOQUENT AND 
PERSUASIVE IN A COMMUNITY 
MEETING, IN A CHURCH BASEMENT, 
AS WE ARE IN THE WELL OF THE 
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
AND THERE ARE NOT MANY LAWYERS 
FOR WHOM THAT IS TRUE.
SO I'M PRIVILEGED TO LEAD A 
STAFF OF EXTRAORDINARY LAWYERS, 
ORGANIZERS, RESEARCHERS AND 
SUPPORT STAFF DEDICATED TO THE 
FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND 
EQUALITY.
I MYSELF WAS A YOUNG LDF LAWYER 
IF 1988 TO 1993 AS YOU HEARD.
THE DIRECTOR COUNCIL WHO HIRED 
ME AND UNDER WHOM I SERVED WAS 
LDF'S THIRD DIRECTOR COUNSEL AND
NORTH CAROLINA'S OWN JULIUS 
CHAMBERS.
A MAN OF SUCH EXTRAORDINARY 
COURAGE AND DEDICATION IT'S HARD
TO THINK OF A PARALLEL.
MR. CHAMBERS CREATED THE FIRST 
INTEGRATED LAW FIRM IN THE 
SOUTH.
THE FIRM WORKED WITH LDF ON 
LITERALLY SCORES OF CASES OVER 
THE YEARS.
MR. CHAMBERS HIMSELF LITIGATED 
70 CASES AGAINST SCHOOL 
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF NORTH 
CAROLINA AND DURING THE TIME 
THAT HE LITIGATED, BOTH HIS HOME
AND HIS OFFICE WERE FIREBOMBED.
WHEN HE WAS ASKED HIS REACTION, 
JULIUS IN HIS VERY JULIUS WAY, A
MAN OF FEW WORDS SAID, YOU JUST 
KEEP FIGHTING.
HE LATER WENT ON TO SERVE AS THE
CHANCELLOR AT NORTH CAROLINA 
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY THEN CREATED 
THE CENTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AT 
NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY LAW 
SCHOOL A CENTER THAT HAS BEEN 
UNDER ATTACK BY THE BOARD OF 
REGION EVENTS AND IT'S NOW 
HEADED BY LDF'S FIFTH DIRECTOR 
COUNSEL.
WE ALSO LITIGATED A NORTH 
CAROLINA CASE THAT BECAME ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT, GRIGS VERSUS
DUKE POWER COMPANY.
THE CASE WAS DECIDED THE SAME 
YEAR AS SWAN AND IT WAS HONORED 
BY SKWAK GREENBERG.
IT ESTABLISHED THE PRINCIPLE 
THAT WE NOW ALL TAKE FOR 
GRANTED, THAT EMPLOYERS MUST 
HAVE A BONA FIDE REASON FOR THE 
TESTS AND QUALIFICATIONS 
ASSOCIATED WITH A JOB.
THE COURT'S DECISION IN THIS 
CASE LITERALLY TRANSFORMED THE 
AMERICAN WORKPLACE, CREATING 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND WOMEN TO 
HAVE ACCESS TO JOBS FROM WHICH 
THEY HAD BEEN BARRED BY 
ARBITRARY RULES AND TESTS 
DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM OUT OF 
CERTAIN FIELDS.
I DON'T WANT TO SKIP OVER THIS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE 
THAT'S TWO NORTH CAROLINA CASES 
THAT TRANSFORMED THE AMERICAN 
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE 
AMERICAN WORKPLACE.
THOSE TWO CASES DECIDED IN ONE 
YEAR CAME OUT OF THIS STATE.
NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LAWYERS 
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE 
SUPREME COURT, BUT UNDERSTAND 
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT ORDINARY
NORTH CAROLINANS WERE WILLING TO
RISK THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND IN 
SOME CASES THEIR LIVES, TO 
ORGANIZE AND TO SERVE AS 
PLAINTIFFS TO CHALLENGE 
ENTRENCHED AND UNJUST STRUCTURES
OF INEQUALITY.
AND THEIR COURAGE ULTIMATELY 
CHANGED THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF
CASES ON LDF'S DOCKET, OUR 
CONNECTION TO THE LAWYERS OF 
THIS STATE AND THE COMMUNITY 
HERE IS DEEP AND LASTING.
AND THEN OF COURSE TO BE HERE AT
DUKE WHERE DR. KING SPOKE IN 
1964, FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, 
I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO SPEND AT 
LAST A PART OF THIS WEEKEND WITH
YOU THIS YEAR.
DR. REECE TOLD ME WEEKS AGO THAT
THE THEME OF YOUR EVENT TODAY IS
FROM KING TO KAEPERNICK, I 
THOUGHT TERRIFIC.
WE STARTED LAST YEAR 2017 WITH 
ONE OF THE LARGEST MASS MARCHES 
EVER IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE
WOMEN'S MARCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
YOU'VE SEEN THE TAKE A KNEE 
PROTESTS IN THE NFL OVER THE 
PAST TWO YEARS, THE HASHTAG ME 
TOO PROTEST HAS LIFTED UP SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE, 
PROTESTS AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE
AGAINST UNARMED 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OF COURSE 
PROTESTS AGAINST CIVIL WAR 
MONUMENTS EXALTING GENERALS AND 
LEADERS OF THE CONFEDERACY HAVE 
TAKEN PLACE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
INCLUDING HERE IN DURHAM.
AND I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR 
REFERRED TO IT, TO PRESIDENT 
PRICE'S IMPORTANT ACTION IN 
REMOVING THE ROBERT E. LEE 
STATUE FROM OUTSIDE THIS CHAPEL.
I KNOW PEOPLE MAYBE THINK THESE 
THINGS ARE NOT IMPORTANT, BUT 
THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
THAT WHICH WE EXALT REVEALS WHAT
WE VALUE AND TREASURE AND WHAT 
OUR HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS ARE.
SO I WANT TO THANK AGAIN 
PRESIDENT PRICE FOR THE ACTION 
THAT HE TOOK HERE.
THE ORGANIZATION THAT I LEAD HAS
A LONG HISTORY REPRESENTING 
PROTESTERS.
WE REPRESENTED THE SELMA 
MARCHERS IN 1965 WORKING WITH 
JOHN LOUIS TO DRAW UP THE PLAN 
THAT ULTIMATELY WAS ACCEPTED BY 
THE COURT TO RESUME THE MARCH, 
WE REPRESENTED MOHAMMED ALI WHEN
HE REFUSED TO SUBMIT THE DRAFT.
WE REPRESENT FREEDOM RIDERS AND 
LUNCH PROTESTERS ALL OVER THE 
COUNTRY.
IN 198 68 JACK GREENBERG MET 
WITH DR. KING IN MARCH TO 
DISCUSS LDF'S PARTICIPATION IN 
THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN AND 
WE AGREE THAT WE WOULD REPRESENT
THE PROTESTERS AND WE HONORED 
THAT AGREEMENT AFTER DR. KING'S 
SHOCKING ASSASSINATION A MONTH 
LATER.
BUT OF COURSE LAWYERS AND 
PROTESTERS ARE NOT THE SAME.
WE REPRESENT PROTESTERS.
WE ARE MOST OFTEN NOT OUT ON THE
FRONT LINE OURSELVES.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO 
PARTICIPATE IN MARCHES WHEN I'M 
NOT ON DUTY.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR TODAY THAT
I CANNOT SPEAK FROM THE 
PERSPECTIVE OF A PROTESTER.
BUT THE GOAL OF CIVIL RIGHTS 
LAWYER AND PROTESTERS SHARE A 
COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE 
AND SO SIDE.
THE DIGTY AND THE HUMANITY AND 
THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS 
OF CITIZENS ARE ENTITLED TO 
PROTECTION.
I HAVE OFTEN SAID THAT CIVIL 
RIGHTS WORK, WHETHER LAWYERING 
OR ACTISM, IS WHAT I CALL 
DEMOCRACY MAINTENANCE WORK.
THOSE OF US WHO DO THIS WORK, DO
THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF 
IDENTIFYING THE FLAWS IN OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
THE PLACES WHERE OUR PRACTICES 
DO NOT LIVE UP TO OUR 
PRINCIPLES.
SOMETIMES WE FIND FLAWS THAT CAN
MORE OR LESS BE EASILY REPAIRED.
SOMETIMES WE FIND MORE SERIOUS 
PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE A DEEPER 
INTERVENTION, A REWIRING OF THE 
POWER GRID AND CONNECTIONS IN 
OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES WE FIND
DANGEROUS ROT AT THE FOUNDATION 
OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND WHEN WE FIND THIS, THIS 
REQUIRES A BROADER, DEEPER 
COLLECTIVE PLAN.
TO FIRST CLEAN OUT THE ROT, TO 
REVEAL ITS EXTENT IT'S UGLINESS,
AND THEN TO REBUILD THE 
FOUNDATION WITH STRONG, CLEAN, 
IF YOU MATERIAL THAT WILL ENSURE
THAT WE'RE BUILDING ON A SOLID 
BASE THAT CAN WITHSTAND TIME AND
PRESSURE AND BLOWS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE AT 
JUST SUCH A MOMENT TODAY.
I'M PROUD TO BE A CIVIL RIGHTS 
LAWYER.
IT IS IN MY VIEW THE HIGHEST 
CALLING OF OUR PROFESSION.
AND I CELEBRATE THE WORK OF MY 
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE GRASS ROOTS 
ORGANIZERS AND ACTIVISTS WHO ARE
ALSO ENGAGED IN THE NOBLIST OF 
WORK.
BUT WHETHER WE LITIGATE OR 
PARTICIPATE IN PROTESTS ON THE 
GROUND, WE RECOGNIZE THAT
NO ONE TACTIC CAN END IN JUSTICE
AND IT'S A WAR THAT MUST BE 
FOUGHT ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.
EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERIOD OF CIVIL
RIGHTS PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY 
HAS BEEN MARKED BY BROAD 
ENGAGEMENT FROM PEOPLE ACROSS 
OUR SOCIETY.
LAWYERS AND ACTIVISTS, YES, BUT 
ALSO ARTISTS AND TEACHERS AND 
WRITERS, POLITICIANS AND FAITH 
LEADERS, JOURNALISTS AND HEALTH 
CARE WORKERS, SCIENTISTS, 
BANKERS, INVESTORS AND ATHLETES.
PERHAPS BECAUSE OF OUR 
CELEBRATION OF HEROS OF THE 
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, LIKE DR. 
KING AND CONGRESS MAN JOHN LEWIS
AND THURGOOD MARSHALL.
THERE HAS BECOME A BELIEVE THAT 
THE OBLIGATION TO FIGHT FOR THE 
PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, SHOULD 
BE UNDERTAKEN BY CIVIL RIGHTS 
PROFESSIONALS.
BUT IT'S THE JOB OF ACTIVISTS 
AND ORGANIZERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS 
LAWYERS TO CHALLENGE INEQUALITY 
AND CALL OUT INJUSTICE.
THIS BELIEF IS PERHAPS THE 
REASON THAT SO MANY PEOPLE 
BECOME ANGRY WHEN THEY SEE 
OTHERS TAKING A STAND OR 
SPEAKING OUT ABOUT INJUSTICE.
ATHLETES SHOULD RUN, JUMP, CATCH
BALLS, SWIM, SWING A RACKET.
SINGERS AND ACTORS SHOULD 
ENTERTAIN BUT NEVER SPEAK OUT 
ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR 
RACISM.
WHY SHOULD AN ACTOR CARE THAT 
THE WATER OF FLINT MICHIGAN IS 
POISONED.
DOCTORS SHOULD DIAGNOSE AND 
NEVER PUBLICLY SHOW SOLIDARITY.
WHEN THEY DO SO THEY ARE SIMPLY 
OUT OF THEIR PLACE.
BUT THIS IS JUST WRONG.
IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF EVERY 
CITIZEN TO DO THEIR PART TO 
SUSTAIN A DEMOCRACY.
AND TODAY I FEEL PERHAPS 
ESPECIALLY TODAY, IT'S CRYSTAL 
CLEAR AND EVIDENT THAT UNLESS 
EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY 
UNDERTAKES THEIR DUTY TO FIGHT 
FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE AND 
EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY, THIS 
DEMOCRACY WILL FAIL.
IT WILL REQUIRE EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF US TO BECOME THE DEMOCRACY 
MAINTENANCE WORKERS IN OUR OWN 
WAY IF THIS COUNTRY IS TO BE 
SAVED FROM THE ABYSS OVER WHICH 
WE CURRENTLY TEETER.
WE TEETER OVER THIS IS BUSINESS 
PRECISELY BECAUSE TOO MANY 
AMERICANS HAVE ABDICATED THEIR 
OBLIGATIONS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE 
ROLE IN THE EVERY DAY 
OBLIGATIONINGS OF TRUE 
CITIZENSHIP AND HAVE LEFT THE 
FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC 
PRINCIPLES TO OTHERS.
WE TEETER ON THE ABYSS BECAUSE 
TOO MANY AMERICANS HAVE 
ABDICATED THEIR OBLIGATION TO 
SPEAK THE TRUTH.
MANY ARE FRIGHTENED OF THE 
TRUTH.
YES, IT'S A TOUGH THING.
IN SOME WAYS AN AWFUL THING TO 
HAVE TO CALL OUT THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN HE 
MAKES RACIST REMARKS.
EVEN FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME
[ APPLAUSE ]
EVEN FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO 
DOES THIS WORK EVERY DAY.
IT'S PAINFUL.
I BARELY SLEPT THURSDAY NIGHT, 
WRACKED WITH ANGER AND GRIEF AT 
THE DEBASEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC 
DISCOURSE AND OF OUR COUNTRY.
I WAS OVERCOME WITH 
DISAPPOINTMENT AND ANGER THAT WE
APPROACHED MARTIN LUTHER KING 
WEEKEND HAVING TO ADDRESS THIS 
EVIDENCE OF HOW FAR WE HAVE TO 
GO.
BUT BECAUSE OF DR. KING'S WORK 
IN COURAGE, BECAUSE OF HIS 
HONESTY AND COMMITMENT, BECAUSE 
DR. KING PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE
FOR OUR FAILURES TO DEAL WITH 
THE TERRIBLE SKORGE OF RACISM IN
THIS COUNTRY, I WILL DO WHAT 
FEELS AWFUL AND SOUNDS HARSH FOR
THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE.
IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE
WISH WE COULD FIND A WAY TO 
AVOID THE TRUTH, BUT WE ARE HERE
TODAY HONORING A MAN WHO GAVE 
HIS LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
I SAY GAVE HIS LIFE, BECAUSE 
THAT IS WHAT HE DID.
IT WAS NOT TAKEN FROM HIM.
HE GAVE IT.
HE SPOKE MANY TIMES ABOUT HOW 
CLOSE THE THREAT OF DEATH WAS TO
HIM.
HE WAS CONFRONTED BY VIOLENT 
OPPOSITION ON MANY OCCASIONS.
HE FACED BURNING CROSSES AND 
ASSAULTS.
HE SAW THE FALLOUT OF FIRE BOMBS
AND ASSASSINATIONS.
BUT HE HAD COMMITTED HIMSELF TO 
NONVII LICENSE AND TO BEING WHAT
HE CALLED A DRUM MAJOR FOR 
JUSTICE SO HE WAS PREPARED TO 
GIVE, TO GIVE HIS LIFE.
AND 50 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE TO 
ASK OURSELVES, ARE WE TOO TIMID 
TO EVEN SPEAK THE TRUTH.
JOURNALISTS SKIRT AROUND THE 
ISSUES, POLITICIANS SAY WE 
SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN NAME 
CALLING.
WE'VE COME UP WITH SYNONYMS FOR 
RACISM SO THAT WE CAN AVOID 
SEEING WHAT STARES US IN THE 
FACE.
WE WOULD NOT CALL IT WHAT IT WAS
WHEN THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN 
PRESIDENT WAS SUBJECTED TO THE 
KIND OF INSULTS, CHALLENGES AND 
INDIGNITIES THAT EVERY BLACK 
PIONEER FROM JACKIE ROBINSON TO 
HARVEY GANT HAVE HAD TO FACE.
WE PRETENDED THAT THE TREATMENT 
OF THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT WAS
NOT A WARNING THAT WE STILL HAD 
A LONG WAY TO GO.
WHEN HE WAS DEN GREATED FOR 
WEARING -- NOT WEARING A JACKET 
IN THE OVAL OFFICE OR WHEN A 
MAJOR UNIVERSITY WOULD NOT GIVE 
HIM A DEGREE BECAUSE THEIR 
ALUMNI PROTESTED, THIS IN THE 
FIRST YEAR HE WAS IN OFFICE, 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS HECKLED 
BY A CONGRESSMAN WHEN HE WAS 
COMPELLED TO PROOF HIS 
LEGITIMACY AS A NATURAL BORN 
AMERICAN BY THE VERY MAN WHO NOW
OCCUPIES THE PRESIDENCY, MANY 
PRETENDED THAT THESE WERE NOT 
OMINOUS SIGNS THAT THE DARK AND 
DANGEROUS ROT OF RACISM WAS 
STILL CORRODING THE FOUNDATIONS 
OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND SO HERE WE ARE IN 2018.
A TIME IN WHICH AMERICAN-BORN 
AND RAISED YOUNG MEN WHO CALL 
THEMSELVES NAZIS AND MARCH WITH 
IMPUNITY CARRYING FLAGS WITH 
SWASTIKAS ON THE STREETS OF OUR 
CITIES, IN WHICH WE EXPEL FROM 
OUR COUNTRY PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
LIVED HERE FOR DECADES HAVING 
FLED VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION IN
THEIR OWN COUNTRIES, WE'RE HERE 
IN 2018 HAVING DECIDED AS 
NATIONAL POLICY TO TURN OUR 
BACKS ON THE SACRED TRUST OF 
PROTECTING THIS PLANET FROM 
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRY DATION.
WE'RE HERE IN 2018 HAVING GIVEN 
SUCH LICENSE TO WHITE SUPREMACY 
THAT HATE CRIMES HAVE RISEN IN 
EVERY REGION IN OUR COUNTRY.
SYMPATHY COUGHMAN WAS KILLED 
LAST YEAR BY A WHITE MAN WHO 
TRAVELED TO BALTIMORE FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF KILLING BLACK MEN AND
KILLED HIM WITH A SWORD ON THE 
STREET.
TWO WHITE MEN WERE KILLED IN 
PORTLAND OREGON FOR COMING TO 
THE AID OF A MUSLIM
WOMAN.
HEATHER HEYER WAS KILLED IN 
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND THAT'S JUST 
THREE OF THE MURDERS NOT TO 
MENTION THE COUNTLESS ASSAULTS 
ON WOMEN, ON CHURCHES AND 
SYNAGOGUES, ALL A TESTAMENT TO 
THE PERVASIVENESS AND GROWING 
VIOLENCE OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
WE'RE HERE AT THIS TIME UNABLE 
AND UNWILLING TO CONTAIN THE 
SCOURGE OF GURN GUN VIOLENCE AND
WHEN I9 LEAVES COUNTLESS WOMEN 
WHO LIVE IN THE TERROR OF 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN UTTER 
CAPTIVITY TO VIOLENT PARTNERS.
WE'RE HERE IN THIS TIME IN 2018 
WHEN MILLIONS OF OUR FELLOW 
CITIZENS LIVED AND STILL LIVE 
WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER FOR 
MONTHS ON THE ISLAND OF PUERTO 
RICO.
MANY WITHOUT CLEAN WATER, 
WITHOUT HOT FOOD AFTER THE 
DEVASTATION OF A HURRICANE.
WE HAVE WATCHED THIS, WE HAVE 
READ ABOUT IT.
MAYBE WE HAVE EVEN LAMENTED IT.
BUT WE MUST ACCEPT THAT WE HAVE 
ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN ON OUR 
WATCH.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVED, PERHAPS 
THAT IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S JOB.
SOME ELECTED OFFICIAL OR 
GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR ACTIVIST 
ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR THE 
LATINX COMMUNITY, SOMEBODY 
ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND
TO A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WITHIN 
OUR OWN BORDERS.
WE'RE HERE IN THIS TIME 150 
YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE 
14 AMENDMENT OF THE 
CONSTITUTION.
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS REQUIRED 
NEARLY 100 YEARS AFTER THAT MOST
SHAMEFUL COMPROMISE AT THE ROOT 
OF OUR COUNTRY'S FORMATION.
THE COMPROMISE THAT DENIED FULL 
CITIZENSHIP AND PERSON HOOD TO 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
WE'RE HERE 150 YEARS AFTER THE 
PASSAGE OF THE 14 AMENDMENT, 147
YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL
WAR, STILL FIGHTING FOR THE FULL
ABILITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO 
VOTE AND PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN 
THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
JUST LAST YEAR TWO FEDERAL 
COURTS FOUND THAT STATES HAD 
ENGAGED IN INTENTIONAL RACIAL 
DISCRIMINATION IN PASSING VOTING
-- VOTER SUPPRESSION STATUTES 
DESIGNED TO KEEP BLACK PEOPLE 
FROM VOTING.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.
THE LEGISLATURES OF TWO STATES 
IN THIS COUNTRY MET AND 
COLLECTIVELY ENACTED STATUTES 
DESIGNED TO UNDERMINE THE 
ABILITY OF BLACK PEOPLE TO VOTE.
NOT IN THE 19TH CENTURY, NOT IN 
THE 20TH CENTURY, BUT IN THE 
21ST CENTURY.
THIS HAPPENED ON OUR WATCH.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THOSE STATES 
WAS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
YOUR LEGISLATURE IN 2013 PASSED 
A LAW CONTAINING A SERIES OF 
MEASURES THAT THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
COURT OF APPEALS DESCRIBED AS 
HAVING SURGICAL PRECISION IN THE
EFFORT TO SUPPRESS THE VOTES OF 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
IN TEXAS WE AT THE LEGAL DEFENSE
FUND LITIGATED A CASE CHALLENGES
TEXAS'S VOTER ID LAW AND THE 
FEDERAL COURT THERE FOUND THAT 
THE VOTER ID LAW ALSO WAS 
RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY.
IT WAS THE LAW THAT BARRED OUR 
CLIENTS, STUDENTS FROM USING 
THEIR STATE UNIVERSITY ID TO 
VOTE, BUT ALLOWED THE USE OF A 
CONCEALED GUN CARRY PERMIT TO 
VOTE.
AND JUST LAST WEEK THE FEDERAL 
COURT FOUND THAT THE 
REDISTRICTING MAP USED TO ELECT 
NORTH CAROLINA REPRESENTS TO 
UNITED STATES CONGRESS VIOLATES 
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THESE 
LAWS WERE PASSED BEFORE THE 
CANDIDACY OF DONALD TRUMP.
IT WAS NOT MR. TRUMP WHO 
COMPELLED THE LEGISLATURES OF 
THOSE STATES TO SEEK TO DENY THE
RIGHT THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS
PRESCRIBED AS PRESERVATIVE OF 
ALL RIGHTS, THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
THE PASSAGE OF THESE LAWS SHOULD
HAVE SOUNDED AN ALARM ACROSS THE
NATION, AN ALARM THAT SOMETHING 
WAS VERY WRONG.
SOMETHING AT THE FOUNDATION OF 
OUR DEMOCRACY THAT DEMANDED OUR 
COLLECTIVE ATTENTION.
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ISSUE
OF POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST 
UNARMED AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
NOT A NEW ISSUE IN AMERICA.
SHERIFF JOE ARAPIO, WAS AND IS A
DISGRACE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE KILLING OF UNARMED 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS BY LAW 
ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN A KEY CIVIL
RIGHTS ISSUE FOR DECADES.
IT OCCUPIED THURGOOD MARSHALL IN
THE 1940s.
AND IT OCCUPIES ME TODAY.
BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 
TECHNOLOGY OF CELL PHONES AYOU 
LOED COURAGEOUS PEOPLE TO SHOW 
AMERICA THE TRUTH OF THESE 
KILLINGS.
ERIC GARNER CHOKED TO DEATH ON A
NEW YORK CITY STREET CORNER 
SAYING I CAN'T BREATHE 11 TIMES 
BEFORE HIS DEATH.
WALTER SCOTT RUNNING FOR HIS 
LIFE.
12-YEAR-OLD TAMIR RICE PLAYING 
ALONE WITH A TOY GUN IN A PARK 
SHOT BY A POLICE OFFICER WITHIN 
SECONDS.
BLEEDING TO DEATH IN THE 
PASSENGER SEAT OF A CAR WHILE 
HIS GIRLFRIEND NARRATES HIS 
DEATH ON 
FACEBOOK.
TERRENCE CRUTCHER WHILE WE HEAR 
THE TAPE OF ANOTHER POLICE 
OFFICER OBSERVING FROM ABOVE WHO
PURPORTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT 
MR. CRUTCHER, AN UNARMED BLACK 
MAN, IS A BAD DUDE.
IT'S ONLY THOSE VIDEOS THAT HAVE
CONVINCED TO BELIEVE WE HAVE A 
PROBLEM, THAT THREATENS THE 
INTEGRITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM 
THAT RIGHTFULLY ALIEN YATS 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM OUR 
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND YET THE USE BY LAW 
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ATD THE 
STATE, USING BRUTAL POWER, IS 
WIDELY RECOGNIZED AROUND THE 
WORLD IS A SIGN THAT A DEMOCRACY
IS IN TROUBLE.
THESE VIDEOS SOUNDED AN ALARM 
AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TOOK TO 
THE STREETS AND TOO OFTEN THEY 
WERE MET WITH TANKS AND BATONS 
AND TEAR GAS.
IT SHOULD HAVE SOUNDED AN ALARM,
NOT JUST IN BLACK COMMUNITIES OR
IN THE CORRIDORS OF THE LEGAL 
DEFENSE FUND.
THIS EVIDENCE SHOULD HAVE SENT 
SHOCK WAVES OF ACTIVISM 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND 
THROUGHOUT EVERY HOME.
EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE BEEN 
DISCUSSING WHAT THEY COULD DO, 
EVERY CHURCH, EVERY TEMPLE, 
EVERY MOSQUE SHOULD HAVE BECOME 
A PLACE OF DISCUSSION AND 
PLANNING FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS 
AND MORAL ENGAGEMENT TO CONFRONT
THIS DANGER.
BUT TO THE CONTRARY, STRONG 
FORCES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO STIFLE 
THE IMPULSE OF JUSTICE-MINDED 
PEOPLE TO SPEAK AND ACT AGAINST 
THE GROWING TIDE OF INJUSTICE IN
OUR COUNTRY.
WHEN ONE TALENTED AND UP RIGHT 
YOUNG MAN OF CONSCIENCE ON ONE 
TEAM IN ONE PROFESSIONAL SPORT 
IN ONE CITY QUITELY SAT AND THEN
QUIETLY TOOK A KNEE DURING OUR 
NATIONAL ANTHEM TO DREW AN ISSUE
TO POLICE VIOLENCE.
HE WAS SOME BELIEVE BLACK BALLED
FROM HIS PROFESSION FROM THOSE 
WHO AWE DAUTIOUSLY CALLED 
THEMSELVES PATRIOTS.
IT SHOWS US THAT THE SYMBOLS OF 
OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY HAVE BEEN 
HIJACKED AND ARE NOW DEPLOYED TO
SUPPRESS AND SHUT DOWN THE VERY 
ACTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE 
HIGHEST LEVEL OF PATRIOTISM AND 
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
WE ARE IN A MOMENT.
A MOMENT WHEN I TRULY BELIEVE 
THAT WE ARE BEING DRIVEN TO 
CONFRONT THE ROT IN THE 
FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY THAT
WE HAVE FAILED TO REMOVE.
WE HAVE PAPERED IT OVER.
WE HAVE CHOSEN TO JUST AVOID 
GOING TO THE BASEMENT SO AS NOT 
TO CONFRONT IT.
WE HAVE PRETENDED THAT THERE IS 
NOT THIS WEAKNESS AT THE CORE OF
OUR NATION, AND SO IT HAS 
SPREAD.
AND IT IS NOW WEAKENING EVERY 
PILLAR OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
THAT ROT, RACISM, HAS WEAKENED 
US AS A NATION IN EVERY WAY.
AMERICANS CAN BE SO EASILY 
MANIPULATE D BY RACE, THAT 
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD KNOW IT.
THE EVIDENCE NOW SHOWS THAT 
RUSSIAN HACKERS USED FAKE 
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER POSTS TO 
STIRRUP TENSION DURING THE 2016 
ELECTION.
THAT MEANS WE'VE REACHED THE 
POINT THAT OUR RACISM HAS BECOME
A NATIONAL SECURITY 
VULNERABILITY.
ITS UGLY RHETORIC AND THE MEAN 
SPIRITED POLICIES IT INSPIRES 
ARE OFTEN WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY 
ADVANCED BY THIS PRESIDENT, BUT 
HE DID NOT CREATE IT AND HE DID 
NOT KEEP US AS A NATION FROM 
TENDING TO THIS ROT THAT WE HAD 
EVERY REASON TO KNOW WAS EATING 
AWAY AT THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR 
DEMOCRACY FOR
DECADES.
DYLAN ROOF KILLED NINE BLACK 
PEOPLE IN A CHURCH WELL BEFORE 
MR. TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS 
PRESIDENCY.
WE ARE HERE TO DO WHAT CONCERNED
CITIZENS MUST DO.
JOIN TOGETHER IN UNITY TO 
CONFRONT THE PROBLEM THAT 
THREATEN THE SUCCESSES OF THE 
VITALITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
WE FAILED AS A NATION TO TAKE UP
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DAILY 
FIGHT FOR THE WORLD WE WISH TO 
SEE.
WE TOOK OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.
WE SUBSTITUTED AN APPETITE FOR 
LURID STORIES AND UNUSUAL AND 
BIZARRE PERSONALITIES TO 
SUPPLANT THE HARD WORK REQUIRED 
TO MAKE GOOD POLICIES AND PASS 
SOUND LAWS.
THAT'S THE BAD NEWS.
SO HOW CAN WE CHART A DIFFERENT 
PATH?
FIRST, WE HAVE TO ROLL UP OUR 
SLEEVES AND PREPARE FOR A 
PROTRACTED PERIOD OF HARD WORK.
ALL IS NOT LOST, BUT WE JUST 
HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE AND THE
WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT 
GENERATIONS BEFORE US DID AT 
PARTICULAR MOMENTS IN OUR 
HISTORY.
WHETHER IT WAS TO FIGHT AGAINST 
FASCISM IN WORLD WAR II OR IN 
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE
'50s AND '60s, OUR PARENTS DID 
NOT SHIRK THEIR OBLIGATION TO 
WORK FOR OUR FUTURE AND WE, NOT 
SHIRK OUR OBLIGATION TO WORK FOR
THE FUTURE OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO YOU SAW COME UP THIS AISLE 
FULL OF POWER AND PASSION AND 
OPTIMISM AND BRILLIANCE.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR 
PART HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
I'M THRILLED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR 
UNIVERSITY COMMISSION ON MEMORY.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT TO CONFRONT THE 
VIOLENCE OF FORGETTING.
SUPPRESSED HISTORY AND 
GASLIGHTING IS ITS OWN FORM OF 
VIOLENCE.
YOU ENCOURAGE ME IN NORTH 
CAROLINA, YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THE
MORAL MAJORITY MOVEMENT, MANY OF
YOU WENT OUT TO THE STATE HOUSE 
TO PROTEST.
YOU HAVE LIFTED UP VISIONARY 
LEADERS LIKE THE REVEREND 
WILLIAM BARBER.
YOU HAVE COMPELLED YOURSELF TO 
CONFRONT YOUR PAST AND TO ENGAGE
WITH THE HISTORY OF THE 
WILMINGTON RACE RIOT OF 1898.
YOU'VE BEEN GALVANIZED TO ENGAGE
IN REAL BATTLES AROUND 
INEQUALITY AND JUSTICE.
REVEREND BARBER HAS LAUNCHED A 
POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN ACROSS 
THE NATION AND EXCITED AND 
ENCOURAGED TO SEE PEOPLE JOINING
THAT AND YOU STARTED THAT HERE 
IF NORTH CAROLINA.
YOU ONCE AGAIN WERE A PLACE THAT
BEGAN A MOVEMENT THAT I BELIEVE 
IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART
OF TRANSFORMING THIS COUNTRY.
AND CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS HAVE 
BEEN WINNING IN COURT, WHETHER 
IT'S OUR WIN IN CHALLENGING 
TEXAS'S VOTER ID LAW, THE NORTH 
CAROLINA VOTING CASE, LITIGATED 
BY BRILLIANT CIVIL RIGHTS 
LAWYERS LIKE ANITA EARL WHO I 
THINK IS HERE TODAY AND IS NOW A
CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SUPREME 
COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA.
OUR WINS IN COURT IN THE MUSLIM 
BANS CASES, WE LITIGATED THE 
PRESIDENT'S VOTER FRAUD 
COMMISSION OUT OF EXISTENCE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WINNING
SOME CASES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I'M PROUD.
I'M PROUD AND PLEASED AND 
ENCOURAGED THAT THE RULE OF LAW 
HAS BEEN HOLDING STEADY.
BUT WE NEED MORE.
AND WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN JUST
HOLD THE LINE.
WE NEED TO IMAGINE AND FIGHT FOR
GREATER JUSTICE.
I'M JUST AMBITIOUS ENOUGH TO 
BELIEVE THAT AT THIS MOMENT OF 
RETRACTION, WE SHOULD BE EVEN 
MORE AMBITIOUS IN OUR VISION FOR
EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.
WE NEED A RADICAL VISION TO MOVE
US FORWARD.
WE NEED TO VOTE IN EVERY 
ELECTION, EVERY ELECTION, AND 
THEN TO DEMAND THAT THOSE WHO WE
ELECT REPRESENT US TO FIGHT FOR 
A RADICAL VISION THAT ELEVATES 
US.
I'M A DEEPLY OPTIMISTIC PERSON.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAD AN 
ORGANIZATION LIKE THE LEGAL 
DEFENSE FUND AND NOT BE 
OPTIMISTIC.
THINK ABOUT OUR EARLY YEARS AND 
WHAT THE WALK OF THOSE LAWYERS 
MEANT.
A GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN 
LAWYERS LED A PLAN, A STRATEGIC 
PLAN TO USE THE LAW TO RESHAPE 
THE CONTOURS OF AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY.
THURGOOD MARSHALL AND JACK 
GREENBERG AND ROBERT CARTER HAD 
NEVER THEMSELVES SEEN THE WORLD 
THEY ATTEMPTED TO CREATE.
WHEN THEY CREATED THE PLAN TO 
END RACIAL SEGREGATION.
THEY HAD A BOLD AND RADICAL 
VISION OF WHAT COULD BE AND THEN
THEY WORKED OVER YEARS, DECADES,
RELENTLESSLY UNTIL THE THING 
THEY IMAGINED BECAME REALITY.
AND IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, WE 
CAN BE AS RADICAL IN OUR VISION 
AND AS RELENTLESS IN OUR WORK.
I WAS JUST SHARING WITH MY STAFF
LAST WEEK THAT ONE OF THE 
ADVANTAGES OF DOING THIS WORK 
FOR A LONG TIME AND WORKING AS 
WE DO IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN THE AREAS
OF EDUCATION AND CRIMINAL 
JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND 
VOTING, IS THAT YOU GET TO SEE 
THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF 
SEEMINGLY DISPARATE SYSTEMS OF 
OPPRESSION.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIRST 
RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM.
A CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VIST ONCE 
TOLD ME THAT RACISM IS A 
SHAPE-SHIFTER.
AND OUR JOB IS TO LEARN TO SEE 
IT IN ITS MANY GUISES.
AND IF YOU'RE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO 
REGARD YOURSELF AS A STUDENT OF 
THIS WORK AS I DO, EVEN AS YOU 
BECOME AN EXPERT, YOU BEGIN TO 
BE ABLE TO SEE IT IN ALL ITS 
GUISES.
OUR JOB, I TOLD OUR STAFF, IS TO
SEE THE ARCHITECTURE OF 
INJUSTICE AND RACISM.
NOT JUST INCIDENTS OF RACISM, 
BUT THE ARCHITECTURE, THE 
SCAFFOLDING AND THEN TO 
DIS-MANHATTAN -- DISMANTLE IT 
AND PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH 
THE TOOLS TO BUILD A NEW 
ARCHITECTURE IN ITS PLACE.
I WANT TO END BY BRIEFLY TALKING
WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS
THE MOST URGENT PROJECT BEFORE 
US AT THIS MOMENT, IN A COUNTRY 
THAT IS FRACTURED AND DIVIDED AS
I'VE EVER EVEN IT IN MY 
LIFETIME.
AND THE PROJECT I THINK WE MUST 
EMBARK UPON IS RECLAIMING THE 
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LIFE.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE MOST 
SUCCESSFUL GUISE THAT RACISM HAS
ASSUMED OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS 
HAS BEEN TO HIDE ITSELF WITHIN 
THE BROADER ATTACK ON PUBLIC 
LIFE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
BEGINNING WITH OUR SUCCESS IN 
BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION,
PUBLIC LIFE HAS BEEN UNDER 
ATTACK BY FORCES OF OPPRESSION.
PUBLIC LIFE WAS IMPORTANT AND 
R5RDED AS WORTHY -- REGARDED AS 
WORTHY OF NATIONAL INVESTMENT 
WHEN IT WAS BELIEVED THAT WHITE 
PEOPLE WOULD GET THE BRATEST 
BENEFIT FROM IT.
WHAT BROWN THREATENED THAT WHITE
CONTROL OF PUBLIC GOODS, WHITE 
SUPREMACISTS BEGAN AN ATTACK ON 
PUBLIC GOODS THAT HAS ALLOWED 
RACISM TO INFECT EVERY DECISION 
ABOUT PUBLIC RESOURCES, 
POLICIES, PRACTICES AND LAWS ALL
WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING RACE, 
WHICH IS WHY THE PROJECT ON 
RACIAL EQUITY THAT THE MAYOR 
DESCRIBED EARLIER IS SO 
IMPORTANT.
AS RICHARD ROTH STEEN WROTE IN 
HIS ACLEEMD 2016 BOOK THE COLOR 
OF LAW, PUBLIC HOUSING WAS 
ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR LOW INCOME 
WHITES.
FEDERALLY INSURED MORTGAGE 
INSTRUMENTS WERE CREATED AND 
06RD ON A SEGREGATED BASIS SUCH 
THAT THE WELL THE OF ALMOST 
EVERY WHITE FAMILY THAT OWNED A 
HOME CERTAINLY BEFORE 198 68 CAN
BE TRACED TO EXPLICIT 
GOVERNMENTAL RACIAL 
DISCRIMINATION.
THE GI BILL WAS DESIGNED TO HELP
SOLDIERS COMING HOME FROM WORLD 
WAR II HAVE ACCESS TO FREE 
COLLEGE AND HOME OWNERSHIP.
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUMPED 
INTO THE CREATION OF THE 
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM MADE 
THE CREATION OF THE WHITE 
SUBURBS POSSIBLE.
THESE WERE MASSIVE PUBLIC 
INVESTMENTS MADE PRINCIPALLY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF WHITE AMERICANS.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WERE 
SEGREGATED AND HELD FOR WHITES 
IN THE SOUTH UNTIL LAWYERS AT 
THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND SUED TO 
DESEGREGATE THEM.
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION WERE REGARDED AS 
CRITICAL TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH 
OF CITIES.
BUT THE MASSIVE RESISTANCE TO 
BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION 
BEGAN A PROJECT IN WHICH WHITES 
FIRST THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND 
LATER EVEN IN THE NORTH CAME TO 
EQUATE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC 
LIFE WITH BLACK PEOPLE.
IN OTHER WORDS ONCE IT WAS 
SNOOND THAT PUBLIC GOODS WOULD 
HAVE TO BE SHARED ON AN EQUAL 
AND NONSEGREGATED BASES, THE 
INTEREST IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT 
DISSIPATED.
SUDDENLY PUBLIC EDUCATION 
STARVED FOR FUNDS.
SOUTHERN WHITES USED PUBLIC 
SCHOOL FUNDS TO OPEN PRIVATE 
WHITE ACADEMIES UNTIL WE SUED TO
OUTLAW THE PRACTICE.
AND HEADS UP DON'T THINK THAT 
THE CURRENT EDUCATION SECRETARY 
IS NOT WORKING TOWARDS A VERY 
SIMILAR EFFORT TODAY AND WE MAY 
HAVE TO SUE AGAIN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I MARK THE CLOSING OF THE 
SCHOOLS IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY 
VIRGINIA AS A CRUCIAL NATIONAL 
MOMENT.
RATHER THAN OFFER INTEGRATED 
PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL 
BOARD OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, 
VIRGINIA, CLOSED THE PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS FROM 1959 TO 1964.
FIVE YEARS.
WHITES SENT THEIR CHILDREN TO 
PRIVATE ACADEMIES, BLACKS WERE 
LEFT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO 
OTHER COUNTIES OR STATES OR 
SIMPLY TO ACCEPT THE 
INTERRUPTION OF THEIR CHILDREN'S
EDUCATION FOR FIVE YEARS.
THIS HAPPENED IN AMERICA.
THE DENIAL OF EDUCATION TO 
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR FIVE 
YEARS RATHER THAN INTEGRATE.
AND THIS POST-BROWN PERIOD, THIS
FIGHT OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA AND 
BOSTON AND DETROIT MARKED THE 
BEGINNING OF A NARRATIVE THAT 
ASSOCIATED THAT WHICH IS PUBLIC 
WITH RACE.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
PUBLIC HOUSING.
I JUST SAID WAS BUILT FOR LOW 
INCOME WHITES BUT WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING TODAY, IT'S
REGARDED AS A PUBLIC GOOD 
CREATED FOR BLACK AND BROWN 
PEOPLE.
IF I SAY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 
ONCE AGAIN IT CARRIES AN IMAGE 
OF RACIAL MINORITIES USING ITS 
SERVICES.
MOST PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC 
ASSISTANCE ARE WHITE AND YET 
WELFARE AND MEDICAID CARRY THE 
IMAGE OF BLACK PEOPLE AS 
RECIPIENTS.
SO OUR SOCIETAL NARRATIVE HAS 
COME TO LIONIZE AND VALUE THE 
PUBLIC.
PRIVATE HOMES AS FAR FROM OUR 
NEIGHBORS AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY WAY 
TO REPAIR THE ROT AT THE 
FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS 
TO RECLAIM THE VALUE OF PUBLIC 
LIFE, TO INVEST IN THE PUBLIC 
STRUCTURES THAT BRING US 
TOGETHER IN WHICH WE CAN MOST 
READILY SEE OUR SHARED DESTINY.
I DO NOT SUGGEST THIS BECAUSE I 
THINK THAT SUCH A COURSE WILL 
ONLY HELP BLACK PEOPLE.
THOSE WHITE PEOPLE WHO PURPORT 
TO SUFFER FROM ECONOMIC ANXIETY 
HAVE ALSO BEEN HARMED BY OUR 
DISINVESTMENT FROM PUBLIC LIFE.
IT IS A PRICE MANY OF THEM HAVE 
BEEN WILLING TO PAY IN EXCHANGE 
FOR THE INTOXICATING BUT EMPTY 
HIGH OF FEELING SUPERIOR TO 
BLACK PEOPLE.
BUT THEY TOO NEED THE RETURN ON 
INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC GOODS.
AND OUR DEMOCRACY NEEDS IT.
A DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY A 
MULTIRACIAL PLURALISTIC 
DEMOCRACY, ONE THAT IS THE 
AMERICAN EXPERIMENT, WILL ONLY 
SURVIVE AND THRIVE IF WE'RE ABLE
TO SEE OURSELVES AS CONNECTED IN
A COMMON PROJECT.
IF WE ARE COMPELLED TO FOCUS ON 
WHAT KNITS US TOGETHER RATHER 
THAN WHAT SEPARATES US, WE NEED 
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, OUR WATER
SYSTEMS, OUR RAIL LINES, OUR 
ELECTRICAL GRID.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR VOTING 
SYSTEM SO EVERY VOTING CAN HAVE 
CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND 
SECURITY IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM,
BUT MOST OF US WE MUST INVEST IN
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO A FUNCTIONING 
AND FAIR DEMOCRACY.
AND PERHAPS WE HAVE FOR GOTTEN 
THAT THE SUPREME COURT 
RECOGNIZED THIS IN BROWN.
WE REMEMBER BROWN FOR WHAT IT 
SAID ABOUT SEGREGATED EDUCATION,
BUT WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT 
THE COURT IN BROWN SAID TWO 
OTHER THINGS.
FIRST, THE COURT DESCRIBED 
EDUCATION AS THE SINGLEMOST 
IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT.
NOT FOOTBALL STADIUMS OR 
LOTTERIES, BUT PUBLIC EDUCATION 
AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT 
FUNCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
ASK YOURSELF WHETHER YOU BELIEVE
THAT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
REGARDS PUBLIC EDUCATION
AS THAT IMPORTANT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
WHY IS IT THE SINGLE-MOST 
IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT.
THE SUPREME COURT TOLD US THE 
ANSWER TO THAT IN BROWN AS WELL.
THE SECOND THING IS THE SUPREME 
COURT IN BROWN DESCRIBED 
EDUCATION AS THE VERY FOUNDATION
OF CITIZENSHIP.
AND WE HAVE FORGOTTEN IN AT OUR 
PERIL.
WE HAVE FOCUSED ON TEST SCORES 
AND GRADUATION RATES.
BUT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN IT'S THE 
CRUISE BULL.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE FOERMTION OF 
CITIZENSHIP IN AN ENVIRONMENT 
THAT IS ARTIFICIAL AND 
EXCLUSIONARY.
IT FAILS TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN
TO EXERCISE CITIZENSHIP IN OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
AND I EMPHASIZE AGAIN NOT JUST 
BLACK CHILDREN, BUT WHITE 
CHILDREN.
THE SUPREME COURT NEVER 
MENTIONED IT IN BROWN, BUT IN 
OUR PRESENTATION IN THE BROWN 
CASE, WE PROVIDED EXPERT 
TESTIMONY THAT RACIAL 
SEGREGATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
HARMS NOT ONLY BLACK CHILDREN 
BUT WHITE CHILDREN AS WELL.
AND UNLESS WE TURN THIS AROUND, 
ALL OF OUR WORK AS CIVIL RIGHTS 
INJUSTICE WARRIORS WILL BE IN 
VAIN.
IT'S THE PROJECT OF DEMOCRACY 
AND CITIZENSHIP AND IT WILL 
COMPEL US TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH,
THE STRUCTURAL AND WIDESPREAD 
RACIAL INEQUALITY CANNOT EXIST 
WITHIN A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.
RACISM, UNADDRESSED, UNTREATED, 
AND TODAY FREED FROM EVEN THE 
CONFINES OF SHAME AND TABOO WILL
SURELY DESTROY OUR DEMOCRACY.
IF WE HAD ANY DOUBT BEFORE, THIS
PAST YEAR SHD MAKE THAT PLAIN.
THOUGH I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE 
THINKING, YOU'RE THINKING THAT 
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS COSTLY, THAT
OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IS BROKEN, 
THAT THIS IS AN ENTRENCHED 
PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE 
ALWAYS MAKING INVESTMENTS.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHERE WE 
WILL CHOOSE TO MAKE THOSE 
INVESTMENTS.
30 YEARS AGO WE DECIDED TO MAKE 
MASSIVE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE A 
FAILURE.
RATHER THAN INVEST IN ADDRESSING
THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY OR 
INVESTING IN SCHOOLS AND JOBS 
AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE 
CHOSE AS A NATION TO PLACE OUR 
INVESTMENTS IN THE CRIMINAL 
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT HAS 
GROWN TO FIVE TIMES THE SIZE IT 
WAS IN 1970.
IT WAS AN INVESTMENT IN MASS 
INCARCERATION AND IT WAS A BAD 
INVESTMENT DRIVEN BY RACISM AND 
STEREOTYPES, NARROW ECONOMIC 
INTERESTS AND SHORTSIGHTED 
POLICY.
AND NOW, WHEN DESPITE WHAT YOU 
HEAR FROM THE CURRENT ATTORNEY 
GENERAL AND WITH THE EXCEPTION 
OF A VERY FEW SPECIFIC CITIES IN
OUR COUNTRY, VIOLENT CRIME IS AT
AN ALL-TIME LOW, WE HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OTHER KINDS 
OF INVESTMENTS.
CAN WE MAKE THEM TOMORROW?
NO.
CLEARLY OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IS 
SUCH THAT THERE'S NO WILL TO 
EMBRACE A VISION AT THIS MOMENT 
FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY 
THAT IMAGINES THE KIND OF 
INVESTMENTS I'VE DESCRIBED.
AND SO WE MUST SUPPORT A 
POLITICAL SYSTEM AND ACTORS IN 
IT WHO WILL EMBRACE THAT VISION.
DR. KING SAID IN 1965 AT THE 
CLOSE OF THE SELMA TO MONTGOMERY
MARCH THAT THIS IS PRY SIZELY 
WHAT WE MUST DO.
HE ENCOURAGED US TO MARCH ON THE
BALLOT BOX UNTIL RACE BAITERS 
LEAVE THE POLITICAL ARENA.
HE REMINDED US THAT MARCHING IS 
BIBLICALLY ENCOURAGED.
THAT JOSHUA WAS ENCOURAGED BY 
GOD TO MARCH HIS PEOPLE AROUND 
THE WALLS OF JERICHO SEVEN TIMES
UNTIL THEY CAME CRUMBLING DOWN.
SO WE MUST ENGAGE IN NON-VIOLENT
PROTESTS IN THE STREETS AROUND 
ONLINE, WE MUST DECIDE THAT 
WE'LL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND 
EQUALITY WHEREVER AND HOW EVER 
WE CAN.
AND OF COURSE AT LDF WE'LL DO 
OUR PART IN THE COURTS, WE'LL 
CONTINUE TO FILE CASES THAT 
EXPOSE THE ARCHITECTURE OF 
RACISM, WE'LL SHOW UP IN THE 
CONGRESS AND THE STATE HOUSE AT 
SCHOOL BOARD MEETHSD AND BEFORE 
THOSE AGENCIES THAT ADVANCE 
POLICY.
WE'LL HOLD OUR OWN PROFESSION 
ACT BL, WHERE LAWYERS AND 
PROSECUTORS FAIL TO CONFRONT 
INJUSTICE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO PUT 
THE TOOLS IN YOUR HAND THAT WILL
ALLOW YOU TO CONSTRUCT THE 
SCAFFOLDING FOR A NEW AND 
CONSTRUCTIVE US MISS JOIN.
WE MUST TAKE UP OUR 
RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGHT FOR OUR 
DEMOCRACY.
I'M REMINDED OF WHAT DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING TOLD US A YEAR AFTER
THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT BEGAN
WHEN HE RETURNED FROM AFRICA 
WHERE HE AND HIS WIFE ATTENDED 
THE INDEPENDENT CEREMONY FOR THE
REPUBLIC OF GHANA.
AND I FEEL LIKE I MUST MAKE THIS
REFERENCE TODAY GIVEN THE 
REMARKS OUR PRESIDENT MADE ON 
THURSDAY ABOUT THE CONTINENT OF 
AFRICA.
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS SO OFTEN 
ENJOYED A RELATIONSHIP OF 
COLLEGIALITY AND SHARED PURPOSE 
WITH LEADERS FROM AFRICA.
THURGOOD TOOK A LEAVE TO TRAVEL 
TO GHANA TO ASSIST HIS FRIEND.
HE ASSISTED IN THE WRITING OF 
THEIR FIRST CONSTITUTION.
LDF HAS ENJOYED FOR MANY YEARS A
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CIVIL 
RIGHTS LAWYERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
BUT WHEN KING RETURNED FROM 
GHANA, HE GAVE A SPEECH IN WHICH
HE DESCRIBED FOUR LESSONS HE 
TOOK FROM OBSERVING.
AND I LEAVE YOU WITH THESE FOUR 
AND I'LL TAKE MY SEAT.
FIRST KING SAID THAT THE GHANA 
EXPERIENCE SHOWED HIM THAT THE 
OPPRESSOR NEVER VOLUNTARILY 
GIVES FREEDOM TO THE OPPRESSED.
DO NOT BELIEVE, KING SAID, THAT 
FREEDOM WILL ROLL OUT ON THE 
WHEELS OF INEVITABILITY.
IT WILL REQUIRE, ON OUR PART, HE
SAID, PERSISTENT REVOLT.
AND PERSISTENT AGITATION.
OR AS KING LIKED TO SAY, WE'VE 
GOT TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
SECOND, KING SAID THAT THE 
TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE FROM 
BRITISH RULE PROVED THAT THE 
PEOPLE CAN BREAK LOSE FROM 
OPPRESSION WITHOUT TAKING UP 
VIOLENCE.
THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO THIS 
PEACEFULLY.
THIRD, HE SAID, THE STRUGGLE OF 
THE GHANANS DEM TRAITED THAT 
FREEDOM -- DEMONSTRATED THAT 
FREEDOM IS NEVER EASY.
HE SAID YOU BETTER GET READY FOR
SOME HOMES AND CHURCHES TO BE 
BOMBED AND TO HAVE BAD THINGS 
SAID ABOUT YOU.
HE CAUTIONED THERE WILL BE HOURS
OF DESPAIR.
THAT'S THE LONG STORY OF 
FREEDOM.
HE SAID THERE WILL BE TEMPORARY 
SETBACKS AND PERIODS OF TENSION.
AND FINALLY KING SAID THAT 
GHANA'S HISTORY AND JOURNEY TO 
INDEPENDENCE DEMONSTRATED THAT 
THE FORCES OF THE UNIVERSE, AND 
THIS I LOVE, ARE ON THE SIDE OF 
JUSTICE.
HE SAID THAT NO MATTER WHAT IT 
LOOKS LIKE, THE OLD ORDER IS 
PASSING AWAY, AND A NEW ORDER IS
COMING IN.
AND I BELIEVE THIS.
I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE.
YOU MUST KNOW IT TOO.
THOSE WHO STAND IN OPPOSITION TO
INJUSTICE KNOW IT AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FIGHTING SO 
HARD TO HOLD ON.
BUT THIS CHANGE WON'T JUST 
HAPPEN.
I BELIEVE, AS I KNOW DR. KING 
DID, THAT WE'VE GOT TO PUSH THE 
OLD ORDER OUT AND USHER THE NEW 
ORDER IN.
AND I AM READY.
BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE THIS 
EVENING, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE 
TOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
♪♪ [ APPLAUSE ]
>> LET US PRAY.
TO THE MOST AWAKE AND PRESENT 
GOD, WE REMEMBER YOUR STRENGTH 
AND MIGHT THAT WAS WITH MOSES AS
YOU DELIVERED THE CHILDREN OF 
ISRAEL FROM OPPRESSION.
WE REMEMBER YOUR EMPOWERING OF 
ESTHER TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF HER
PEOPLE.
WE REMEMBER HOW THE SPIRIT OF 
THE LORD ANOINTED ISIAH TO 
PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR, 
RECOVER THE SIGHT TO THE BLIND 
WE REMEMBER THE COURAGE YOU GAVE
TO HARRIET TUBMAN TO RETURN BACK
SOUTH AND LIBERATE OTHERS.
WE REMEMBER THE DETERMINATION 
YOU GAVE TO ROSA PARKS.
WE REMEMBER THE SHEER ENDURANCE 
AND THE HOURS OF DESPAIR THAT 
YOU GAVE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING
JUNIOR.
WE REMEMBER HOW YOU ORDAINED THE
WORK OF CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY, 
AND LORD WE REMEMBER YOUR POWER 
WHEN COLIN KAEPERNICK STAYED IN 
HIS SEAT.
HE FOUND A GOOD FIGHT AND 
DECIDED TO GET INTO IT.
SO LORD, GRANT US YOUR STRENGTH 
AND YOUR MIGHT AND YOUR 
DETERMINATION TO DO THE WORK OF 
DEMOCRATIC MAINTENANCE WORK.
TO NOT JUST SPEAK TRUTH TO 
POWER, BUT TO SPEAK A TRUTH THAT
EMPOWERS.
LORD, GRAND US THE PEACE AND THE
FORESIGHT TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC 
LIFE SO THAT JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN 
LIKE A RIVER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS 
LIKE AN EVER FLOWING STREAM.
WE OFFER UP THIS PRAYER IN THE 
NAME OF THE AL MIGHTY GOD AND 
OUR ELDER BROTHER JESUS.
TOGETHER WE PRAY AND SAY AMEN.
PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR
THE SINGING OF 
"WE SHALL OVERCOME."
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME WE SHALL 
OVERCOME WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ SOME DAY ♪ IN MY HEART I 
BELIEVE WE SHALL
OVERCOME SOME DAY ♪ I DO BELIEVE
WE WALK HAND
IN HAND SOME DAY ♪ ♪ WE
SHALL LIVE IN PEACE ♪ SOME DAY ♪
