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Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan reflects on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

‘The long arc bends toward justice’

City of Clarksville - Clarksville, TNClarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan shares this message in celebration of the birth of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.:

Around Monday’s national holiday, as a community, we pause to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He had a special insight and clarity, and many of the words he spoke more than five decades ago still inspire us today.

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan
Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan

One of my favorite quotes of his is this: “I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because ‘truth crushed to earth will rise again.’ How long? Not long, because ‘no lie can live forever.’ … How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

This quote comes from Dr. King’s “’Our God is Marching On’ speech, delivered March 25th, 1965 in Montgomery, AL.

The speech was the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement’s Selma march, which would spark passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. King told his audience that segregation was “on its deathbed” and the movement must now be prepared to “march on poverty.”

Historians say the speech marked the triumphant end of the first phase of the Civil Rights Movement — seeking legal and political rights — and the beginning of a new phase focused on economic equality.

” … The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”– Martin Luther King Jr.

We all know that despite much progress, America is still an economically and socially divided nation, and that this phase of King’s inspirational movement still has miles to go.

For my part, it is an honor to have served the people of Clarksville for more than two decades. Yet I am still filled with commitment and purpose as we continue to work side-by-side to bend the arc of history and fulfill the American dream of equality and justice for all.

This means working hard every day to ensure each Clarksville citizen has an equal opportunity to succeed, and to ensure that the strength and resources of the City of Clarksville are used fairly to provide for all our citizens the best possible City in which to live, work and raise a family.

I invite you to join me in remembering the life and message of Dr. King on Monday, January 15th, 2018 and every day of the year.

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