Posted by Dave on 04/04/08 at 12:11:50 pm
Categories: Social Justice Ravings, Race Ravings, Labor

The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice.

40 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered outside of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN.

What few people remember is that King was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers:

On March 30, 1968, King went to Memphis, Tennessee in support of the black sanitary public works employees, represented by AFSCME Local 1733, who had been on strike since March 12 for higher wages and better treatment. (For example, African American workers, unlike white workers, were not paid when sent home because of inclement weather.)

King was not just concerned with racism, but was concerned about larger issues of social justice - the war in Vietnam, racism, poverty, workers' rights, etc.

King was obviously an influential man, and while he was far from perfect, he played a significant role in changing the trajectory of this country. He will forever be remembered as a hero of those who has little or no voice. he will forever be remembered as a man who believed in justice, and believe that society would find its way to justice.

Below is the last speech that he gave, the day before he was murdered:

[youtube]n53GuVt0tlY[/youtube]

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