Thank you, Mr. President.

Although I am one of the newest members of the Senate, I am already creating a tradition for this esteemed body. I am now the second incoming senator from the 37th legislative district to speak on Martin Luther King day without it counting as their first official speech. Thank you, Mr. President, and my colleagues from the 47th and 21st districts for allowing me to stand up and speak today, and my colleague from the 12th for offering the resolution.

As you know, the 37th district is one of the most diverse in the state, and is at the heart of the county named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. My district reflects the Dr. King’s dream where people of all skin colors, religions and backgrounds live side-by-side. I am grateful to be here with you all today to honor the legacy of an incredible human being.

While Dr. King‘s legacy means a little something different to each of us, we all find inspiration and meaning from his life—whether it was his profound faith, his prophetic words, or his non-violent pursuit for racial equality. He was a father and a husband who set an example of service to others; he was selfless, patriotic and paid the ultimate sacrifice for standing up for what is right. He unapologetically called us to value all lives, by truly valuing the lives of black children, men and women.
The resolution points too, to Dr. King’s gift and skill of oratory. So many of his words ring as true today for American as they did fifty years ago. In his “I have a dream” speech, he proclaims:

“We have all come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
These are words to live by today. There is an urgent need in this nation for more understanding, more equity and more unity. And in this body, there is a fierce urgency to finally fund education fairly and fully this session.

“Now is the time to make real the promise” we have made to our students. “Now is the time to make real the promise” to uphold our paramount duty. “Now is the time to make real the promise” to fully and fairly fund education, and lift our state and our students out of the quicksands of racial injustice and economic disparities so they do not become indicators of their futures.

Currently only some children in our school system leave high school ready for career or college. Only some believe they can do anything they put their minds to. Many struggle just to make it through the day. The kids who are more likely to drop out, to not go to college or to arrive at school hungry are children of color. This is unacceptable, and I know we can do better.

There are so many bright spots in our state funded schools, including Rainier Beach High School in my district. It is a living example of what students can do when they are given chances, resources and a dream to believe in. Rainier Beach went from the school many tried to avoid to a school that offered all students the chance to take International Baccalaureate classes – some of the most rigorous academic classes in the country. Their enrollment doubled. Their attendance increased. Their drop-out rate plummeted.

Parents, teachers and principals put faith in those students. They saw them as individuals with dreams, and knowledge and drive – not as a statistic. The adults in those kids’ lives lead with love – and whenever we lead with love – whenever we legislate with love – the outcome is going to be different. It is going bring us closer to our American dream.

Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that. Our Washington families, teachers, and students visiting us today in our state capitol embody his teachings, and now we here in this chamber have an opportunity to fulfill the promise by legislating with love.

Thank you, Mr. President.