The following is a statement from Brianna Brown, deputy director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), highlighting the heightened importance of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
“It was less than two weeks ago that the scourge of white supremacy violently roared through the halls of the U.S. Capitol, igniting intense introspection on who we are as a nation, and so clearly illustrating just how far off we are from realizing Dr. King’s dream.
“For Black Americans, this introspection is a vastly different and traumatic experience. Since our nation’s inception, we have propelled it to prosperity and dared it to fully live out its promise, delivering countless victories for our democracy all while withstanding the many insidious forms of white supremacy that chip away at our humanity.
“TOP’s fight for racial and economic justice is intrinsically linked to Dr. King’s bold, unapologetic vision for dismantling institutional racism and the oppressive power structures that still hold millions of Black and Latino Americans back from living the full lives we deserve.”
Deyonne Primo, TOP board member, added, “In a matter of hours, a bigot will end his chaotic reign at the White House, having been electorally defeated by our communities that he sought to marginalize at every turn, the same communities Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lifted up and championed.
“With our very existence on the line, communities of color were fearless in the face of white supremacy and used our collective power at the ballot box to deal it a notable blow. This isn’t some kind of coincidence; this is MLK’s legacy in action.”
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Texas Organizing Project organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris and Bexar counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.
This statement was sent to press January 18, 2021.