Today marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To commemorate his life and legacy, the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama and Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis discussed Dr. King’s legacy with a group of students from Washington, D.C.’s all-boys’ Ron Brown College Preparatory High School. The roundtable talk was a part of Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.
In the video, released by the Obama Foundation today, Obama and Lewis shared how Dr. King inspired them. Lewis worked alongside Dr. King during the civil rights movement, and was the youngest speaker at the “March on Washington.” He is now the only living speaker from the march. During the discussion, Obama said:
“I thought that this would be a good opportunity to connect the people who inspired me with the next generation of young leaders who are going to be doing outstanding things themselves.”
The students also joined in on Obama and Lewis’ conversation, reaffirming that Dr. King’s life continues to impact the new generation. Obama and Lewis also encouraged the students to fight against injustice, regardless if their position is unpopular at the time.
“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something, to say something, and Dr. King inspired us to do just that,” Lewis told the students.
Dr. King, thank you for your dream and your sacrifice. Because of you, we can and we will.