INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today released the following statement from Chairman Mike Schmuhl to commemorate the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday: 

“Each January, we observe the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as someone who advocated for the basic and founding rights instilled in the American fabric and the U.S. Constitution so all Americans could have a more equal and equitable nation. 

From leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and the Marches in Selma, Alabama to headlining the March on Washington in 1963 – where he famously delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech to millions of Americans – Dr. King fought for the elimination of segregation in our schools, a higher minimum wage and better rights for American workers, and the end of racial discrimination across the United States.

But what was truly the most admirable part about Dr. King was his passion to do all of this in a peaceful, nonviolent way – for he believed change could happen by raising your voice, instead of physical confrontation. He believed a brighter future can be achieved when all voices have a seat at the table. 

Dr. King’s legacy lives on to this day. Our country has made great strides in equal rights for all. Through electing the nation’s first African-American President and achieving thresholds of equality for other communities, Americans continue the fight for the principles of fairness, the ‘Golden Rule,’ and equitable opportunities – the principles Dr. King tirelessly advocated for during his entire adult life.

For that, the Indiana Democratic Party asks Hoosiers to remember the sacrifices Dr. King and so many others in the broader civil rights movement have made in the fight for freedom for our nation. If it weren’t for strong leaders like Dr. King, America’s legacy may not be as rich as it is today.”

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