Photos: Wikimedia Commons
MILWAUKEE- Today we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the groundbreaking Civil Rights leader who advocated for civil rights, voting rights, and the end of discrimination and wealth inequality. While our community and leaders spend today celebrating his legacy, the State Senate is poised to consider a constitutional amendment (Assembly Joint Resolution 102 & Senate Joint Resolution 94) that would ban anti-discrimination programs undermining the legacy we celebrate today. Senator Dora Drake, Vice Caucus Chair for Senate Democrats, and the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus released the following statement:
“As leaders, we have a responsibility to lead based on facts, data, and the history of our nation, both the triumphs and mistakes. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the best version of America. One that pushed us to be true to the values we used to inspire the world in the Declaration of Independence nearly 250 years ago. This culminated in a legacy that desegregated our nation and installed the historic Civil and Voting Rights Acts meant to protect the dignity of all Americans. While he was a pioneer of his time, his efforts were not popular, yet he continued, and it cost him his life.
Today, many elected leaders will post statements uplifting this legacy, while some at the same time move to undermine it. This week, the State Senate will consider a constitutional amendment that would ban anti-discrimination programs and protections, which passed the Assembly last week. They will say that Dr. King advocated for a “colorblind society” while blaming women, Black, and Brown Wisconsinites for the economic problems of today. They will say this will restore “merit” but fail to acknowledge this was the same language that was used to justify discrimination before the Civil Rights Act. Some will go even as far as to say that the Civil Rights Act hurt more than it helped people.
Dr. King warned us that the biggest challenge facing our nation is the inordinate amount of wealth hoarded by the elite of our nation. In his final days, he advocated for ending wealth inequality, an issue that we still haven’t solved to this day. This constitutional amendment is an effort to distract us from this reality and the economic failures of the Republican-controlled legislature.
Today I challenge every Wisconsinite who believes in Dr. King’s legacy to hold every elected official accountable for it. Call out the hypocrisy, tell all Wisconsin State Senators to vote “No” on Wednesday, and work to finish the job Dr. King started.”
Senator Drake will be available for comment ahead of the Senate Legislative Session this Wednesday.
