Local leaders, past and present, remember Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
August 28, 2013, marked the 50 year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in 1963, where the clergyman and civil rights activist called for an end to racism in the United States.
In memory of Dr. King’s legacy (including the namesake for our county), King County elected officials spoke of his legacy at the King County Courthouse, where artwork featuring Dr. King is on display in the building’s rotunda.
Here are their remarks, courtesy of a King County press release:
"Fifty years after that pivotal event, we are still striving to make Dr. King's dream a reality," said Executive Constantine. "On this day we rededicate ourselves to the task of creating a truly just society, where every person has the opportunity to fulfill his or her potential."
King County Council Chair Larry Gossett was heavily involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. As a student at the University of Washington, he was one of the founders of the Black Student Union. During today's observance, Council Chair Gossett encouraged attendees to keep working to eliminate inequities.