Martin Luther King Jr.’s children took the stage at the Democratic National Convention tonight – also the 45th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech – just hours before Sen. Barack Obama’s historic acceptance as presidential nominee.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who was there for King’s historic speech, began the anniversary tribute.
“On that day, his words and his example inspired an entire generation of young and old, rich and poor,” he said. “Tonight, we gather here in this magnificent stadium in Denver because we still have a dream.”
Lewis called this election “a testament to the power” of King.
“We will march as we never have before to elect the next president of the United States, Sen. Barack Obama,” he said.
Introduced by his sister, the Rev. Bernice King, Martin Luther King III said his father would be proud on this historic night.
“On this day, exactly 45 years ago, my father stood on the national mall in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln and proclaimed, ‘I have a dream,” he said. “You know we are all children of the dream and he is here in all of our hearts and minds.”
King encouraged the crowd to help elect Obama and take an active role in democracy because our ability to “do good in the world is boundless.”
“Let us give our nation a leader who has heard this clarion call and will help us achieve the change we still need: Barack Obama,” he said.
