Colorado Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora, holds a portrait taken by the late husband of one of his constituents. It sits over his shoulder in his legislative office to remind him of the sacrifices that have been made in the ongoing struggle to allow all people to live free and equal. (By Joey BunchThe Denver Post)
Republicans and Democrats in the Colorado House of Represenetatives agreed Friday: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy still resonates nearly 47 years after his death. Monday is the holiday that embraces that legacy.
Readings from his works and personal remembrances and tributes from members of both parties preceded a unanimous support for a resolution honoring King that was introduced by Reps. Jovan Melton, D-Denver, and Kim Ransom, R-Littleton. All the members of the House who were present were added on as co-sponsors.
Melton keeps a portrait of Dr. King above his desk in his legislative office as a reminder that the work he does for the state is inspired and informed by King’s courage and conviction.
“Dr. King went forward with an unyielding conviction that God had created all men equal, taking this stance while he strongly proclaimed that it was up to good men of conscious of every color to act selflessly and speak truthfully without guile in order to bring about the end of segregation in the United States.” Ransom said.
A portrait on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hangs on the first floor of the Colorado State Capitol. (By Joey Bunch/The Denver Post)
Rep. Joann Windholz, R-Commerce City, read from the famous letter King wrote in 1963 as he reflected on the lives of the great men who inspired him and his fight for equality against the backdrop of the bared teeth of a divided South.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Windholz recited.
Dr. King addressed his detractors in the reading by Windholz: “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see … that justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver, recounted a talk she had with a Denver school child in the era of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
“Simply because Jim Crow is dead does not mean that hatred, bigotry and racism are relics of the past,” she said. “Hatred, bigotry and racism has manifested itself in more subtle ways. We are left with the task of carrying on Dr. King’s work, of realizing his dream of not just tolerating one another but loving each other as brothers and sisters in achieving justice for all.”
Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornron, recounted his work as a civil rights investigator for the state and as a student activist leading marches and protests at the University of Colorado inspired King, , and others. Salazar said people should not just read the words, but live them, as well.
“It’s not about talking about what was. It’s about recognizing the beautiful things that can, should and will be for racial equality, gender equality and equality for members of all disadvantage communities,” Salazar said. “That’s the test, not how many quotes we can memorize and spout out in one particular day, but how we live those quotes every single day and how we work with each other to figure out what that equality looks like.”
Rep, John Buckner, D-Aurora, said the annual commemoration is each person’s opportunity to reflect on what he or she has done in the spirit of freedom and equality the other 364 days a year.
“Dr. King would not have wanted a holiday,” Buckner said. “He would have wanted an every day.”
Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, said he was a college student when he became a supporter of Dr. King’s mission on racial justice, but it grew to include his reasons for opposing the Vietnam War.
“We’re still out there thousands of miles away enacting wars and taking away from our domestic care of our people in our own population,” Tyler said.
Tyler concluded, “The arc that I started with from listening to Dr. Martin Luther King ends here in the work I try to do for the people of Colorado, and I want to think him for that inspiration.”
The joint resolution will be taken up by the Senate on Tuesday. Both chambers will in recess Monday for the holiday.
