Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of an America, in which all people are measured only by their character and by their actions, is more urgent than ever.

As we approach the national holiday honoring his legacy, the scourge of racism and extremism remains all too alive. We need only look to recent events in our nation’s Capitol to see confirmation of the deep chasm between our highest ideals and deepest flaws.

I, however, continue to share Dr. King's conviction that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." We must not stand idly by waiting for others to do the work for us though. It's up to each of us as strong, proud, and united trade unionists and defenders of the rights of working men and women to work harder and faster to bend that arc. We must make our unions bigger, more active and stronger so the uplifting and equalizing power of collective bargaining contracts are available to all. We must speak out clearly, loudly and unequivocally against bias, bigotry and racism whether it is in our community or in our halls of power, from statehouses to the Halls of Congress and the White House.

We can make Dr. King’s dream real so that every American, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, wealth or the lack of it, has equal rights and equal opportunity. But we have to act to achieve his dream.

On behalf of myself, General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni, and the entire LIUNA General Executive Board, I ask you to join me in continuing to fight for the legacy of Dr. King and his vision of a better America.