April 4, 2008
New York, NY

I remember that night 40 years ago as if it were yesterday. The heartbreak and anger that spread across the land, the riots in our cities, the powerful plea of Robert Kennedy, campaigning for president in Indianapolis to honor Dr. King’s life by renouncing violence and reconciling with and caring for each other.

When several blocks of Washington, DC went up in flames, I was a senior at Georgetown and joined other volunteers in driving through National Guard patrols to take supplies to homeless families huddled together in church basements.

Two months later, Dr. King’s Poor People’s march on Washington went on as planned, as people from all over the world camped out at the Mall, making a passionate plea to end poverty and make peace.

In the years since, America has made great strides towards Dr. King’s dream of a nation where we can all be judged not by the color of our skin, but the content of our character. But the poverty, inequality, and violence we deplored persists, making his last mission as urgent today as it was 40 years ago. We can honor him best by embracing, and living, his dream.