MLK Day 2023 must be a call to action for our decision makers and our communities
Today, Refugee Congress celebrates the life and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King showed that storytelling, community action, and shared goals have the power to change narratives and shape our country’s future. The movement he and other Civil Rights activists inspired paved the way for a more just path forward. We at Refugee Congress are indebted to Dr. King, because these changes created the potential for a more welcoming environment for refugees and other vulnerable migrants.
More important than recognition and remembrance of Dr. King’s impact, however, is how we as individuals act to honor his legacy in our communities and states. The quotes from MLK that we will all see throughout the day on our social media feeds are not just words that we post once a year – they are a call to action and guidance for a more inclusive, just future for all.
This year, we’re reflecting on this MLK quote: “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always right to do right.”
In 2022 and continuing today, the right to seek asylum faced threats from across the political spectrum. Trump-era policies like Title 42 and newly announced proposals for “transit bans” penalize those coming to our border seeking safety. Refugee Congress Delegates have fled injustice, persecution, and violence. We know firsthand the cost of waiting for decision makers to do what is right.
“In Dr. King’s 1967 “Beyond Việt Nam” speech, he implored the US to end the Việt Nam War. As a Vietnamese refugee, his powerful message to cease the war for Vietnamese people profoundly impacts me,” said Nga Vương-Sandoval, Honorary Delegate for Colorado. “Had the nation heeded his appeal, countless lives could have been saved and my family and I would not be among the 2 million Vietnamese refugees who lost our homeland. I’m forever grateful for his humanity for us.”
“We’re reminded by Dr. King that as leaders, we have an obligation to do what is right, even when the majority is against it. This is why Refugee Congress delegates continue to be a voice for the voiceless,” said Lourena Gboeah, Refugee Congress Board Chair.
"It's an honor to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on this special day! We all have a lot to learn from him, and his legacy is still having an impact on the world,” said Adam Sadda, Refugee Congress Delegate for North Carolina. “Many of the same issues that Dr. King battled against — inequality, poverty, racism, violence, etc.— still live on in today's world. But, it's not too late to make a difference."
So, we reflect on the impact of Dr. King and remember his legacy, we share his inspiring quotes – but true reflection also must include evaluating whether we are acting in a way that amplifies the voices and actions of people experiencing oppression, prejudice, and other injustices.
Today and every day, we strive to follow in the footsteps of Dr. King by centering the voices of people with lived experiences, sharing our stories, and calling on decision makers to move with purpose and urgency to do what is right so that we continue to build a more just, equitable future for all.
