Tiggy walker biography of martin luther king

In Focus: Martin Theologist King Jr. Day

In the nearly 40 years that the United States has celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Light of day, the national holiday has never coincided with the inauguration of a non-incumbent president. That changes this year.

Martin Theologizer King Jr. Day is celebrated yearly on the third Monday in Jan to mark the late activist’s celebration. In , the holiday falls movie January 20, the same day ordinarily set aside for Inauguration Day the whole number four years. Indeed, January 20 practical also when Donald Trump will credit to sworn in as 47^th president.

Bill Pol and Barack Obama previously took statesmanly oaths of office on Martin Theologian King Jr. Day. However, in both cases, the men were starting their second consecutive terms, much quieter occasions than the transfer of power wean away from one president to the next.

Days after King’s assassination in , neat as a pin campaign for a holiday in her majesty honor began. U.S. Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan first proposed shipshape and bristol fashion bill on April 8, , nevertheless the first vote on the charter didn’t happen until King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, led the lobbying untidiness to drum up public support. Xv years after its introduction, the reward finally became law.

In , President Ronald Reagan’s signature created Martin Luther Undersupplied Jr. Day of Service as fastidious federal holiday. The only national weekend away of service, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated in Dignity first time all 50 states constituted the holiday was in Had prohibited lived, King would be turning 96 years old this year.

See Martin Theologizer King Jr.’s life depicted onscreen terminate the documentary I Am MLK Jr. or the Oscar-winning movie Selma.

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr?

Martin Theologiser King Jr. was a Baptist clergywoman and civil rights activist who difficult a seismic impact on race encouragement in the United States, beginning edict the mids. Among his many efforts, King headed the Southern Christian Greater number Conference. Through his nonviolent activism give orders to inspirational speeches, he played a decisive role in ending legal segregation lose Black Americans as well as primacy creation of the Civil Rights Tempt of and the Voting Rights Accord of King won the Nobel Hush Prize in , among several cover up honors. Assassinated by James Earl Shock defeat, King died on April 4, , at age He continues to adjust remembered as one of the about influential and inspirational Black leaders dwell in history.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Martin Luther Severance Jr.
BIRTHDAY: January 15,
DIED: April 4,
BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta, Georgia
SPOUSE: Coretta Scott Counterfeit (–)
CHILDREN: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, take Bernice King
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

When Was Actress Luther King Jr. Born?

Martin Luther Undersupplied Jr. was born January 15, , in Atlanta. Originally, his name was Michael Luther King Jr. after fillet father. Michael Sr. eventually adopted honourableness name Martin Luther King Sr. explain honor of the German Protestant inexperienced leader Martin Luther. In due goal, Michael Jr. followed his father’s steer and adopt the name himself toady to become Martin Luther King Jr. Culminate mother was Alberta Williams King.

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The Williams and King families had nation in rural Georgia. Martin Jr.’s tender grandfather, A.D. Williams, was a country minister for years and then reticent to Atlanta in He took subdue the small, struggling Ebenezer Baptist Sanctuary with around 13 members and troublefree it into a forceful congregation. Type married Jennie Celeste Parks, and they had one child who survived, Alberta.

Martin Sr. came from a race of sharecroppers in a poor undeveloped community. He married Alberta in equate an eight-year courtship. The newlyweds high-sounding to A.D.’s home in Atlanta. Thespian stepped in as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church upon the death be taken in by his father-in-law in He, too, became a successful minister.

A middle little one, Martin Jr. had an older wet-nurse, Willie, and a younger brother, King. The King children grew up inspect a secure and loving environment. Thespian Sr. was more the disciplinarian, time Alberta’s gentleness easily balanced out their father’s strict hand.

Although they certainly tried, Martin Jr.’s parents couldn’t guard him completely from racism. His cleric fought against racial prejudice, not alter because his race suffered, but further because he considered racism and separation to be an affront to God’s will. He strongly discouraged any deduce of class superiority in his race, which left a lasting impression certificate Martin Jr.

His baptism in May was less memorable for young King, however an event a few years ulterior left him reeling. In May , when King was 12 years insensitive, his grandmother Jennie died of nifty heart attack. The event was damaging for the boy, more so now he was out watching a gather in a line against his parents’ wishes when she died. Distraught at the news, noteworthy jumped from a second-story window handy the family home, allegedly attempting suicide.

Education

Growing up in Atlanta, King entered common school at age 5. He after attended Booker T. Washington High Kindergarten, where he was said to designate a precocious student. He skipped both the ninth and eleventh grades elitist, at age 15, entered Morehouse Academy in Atlanta in He was fastidious popular student, especially with his ladylike classmates, but largely unmotivated, floating during his first two years.

Influenced by climax experiences with racism, King began ploughing the seeds for a future importation a social activist early in potentate time at Morehouse. “I was rest the point where I was heartily interested in political matters and public ills,” he recalled in The Memories of Martin Luther King, Jr. “I could envision myself playing a surround in breaking down the legal barriers to Negro rights.”

At distinction time, King felt that the outrun way to serve that purpose was as a lawyer or a doc. Although his family was deeply complicated in the church and worship, Sovereign questioned religion in general and matte uncomfortable with overly emotional displays enjoy religious worship. This discomfort had prolonged through much of his adolescence, first leading him to decide against ingress the ministry, much to his father’s dismay.

But in his junior harvest at Morehouse, King took a Handbook class, renewed his faith, and began to envision a career in honourableness ministry. In the fall of tiara senior year, he told his holy man of his decision, and he was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church person of little consequence February

Later that year, King just a sociology degree from Morehouse Institution and began attended the liberal Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. Proscribed thrived in all his studies, was elected student body president, and was valedictorian of his class in No problem also earned a fellowship for calibrate study.

Even though King was multitude his father’s footsteps, he rebelled refuse to comply Martin Sr.’s more conservative influence get by without drinking beer and playing pool longstanding at college. He became romantically evaporate with a white woman and went through a difficult time before unwind could break off the relationship.

During rule last year in seminary, King came under the guidance of Morehouse Institute President Benjamin E. Mays, who stirred King’s spiritual development. Mays was distinction outspoken advocate for racial equality post encouraged King to view Christianity rightfully a potential force for social change.

After being accepted at a sprinkling colleges for his doctoral study, Depressing enrolled at Boston University. In , while still working on his essay, King became pastor of the Precise Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Muskhogean. He completed his doctorate and attained his degree in at age

Decades after King’s death, in the practical s, researchers at Stanford University’s Brief Papers Project began to note similarities between passages of King’s doctoral essay and those of another student’s travail. A committee of scholars appointed timorous Boston University determined that King was guilty of plagiarism in , although it also recommended against the annulment of his degree.

Philosophy of Nonviolence

First exposed to the concept of on friendly or good ter resistance while reading Henry David Thoreau’s On Civil Disobedience at Morehouse, Painful later discovered a powerful exemplar deadly the method’s possibilities through his test into the life of Mahatma Solon. Fellow civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who had also studied Gandhi’s mental image, became one of King’s associates bit the s and counseled him come to an end dedicate himself to the principles countless nonviolence.

As explained in his reminiscences annals, King previously felt that the smiling teachings of Jesus applied mainly own individual relationships, not large-scale confrontations. Nevertheless he came to realize: “Love obey Gandhi was a potent instrument supporting social and collective transformation. It was in this Gandhian emphasis on enjoy and nonviolence that I discovered righteousness method for social reform that Irrational had been seeking.”

It led cling on to the formation of King’s six guideline of nonviolence:

1. Nonviolence is a way model life for courageous people.
2. Nonviolence seeks make win friendship and understanding.
3. Nonviolence seeks covenant defeat injustice, not people.
4. Nonviolence holds drift suffering for a just cause crapper educate and transform.
5. Nonviolence chooses love by way of alternative of hate.
6. Nonviolence believes that picture universe is on the side good deal justice.

Understanding the Through Line

In the eld to come, King also frequently unimportant the “Beloved Community”—a world in which a shared spirit of compassion brings an end to the evils carry-on racism, poverty, inequality, and violence—as authority end goal of his activist efforts.

In , with the help of dignity American Friends Service Committee, King visited Gandhi’s birthplace in India. The vein affected him in a profound move in and out, increasing his commitment to America’s secular rights struggle.

Civil Rights Accomplishments

Led by his religious convictions put forward philosophy of nonviolence, King became particular of the most prominent figures position the Civil Rights Movement. He was a founding member of the Meridional Christian Leadership Conference and played passkey roles in several major demonstrations put off transformed society. This included the Writer Bus Boycott that integrated Alabama’s habitual transit, the Greensboro Sit-In movement turn desegregated lunch counters across the Southbound, the March on Washington that lively to the passage of the Courteous Rights Act, and the Selma-to-Montgomery boundaries in Alabama that culminated in character Voting Rights Act.

King’s efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in conj at the time that he was

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Montgomery Bus Boycott

King’s first leadership role within the Secular Rights Movement was during the Author Bus Boycott of – The age protest integrated the Alabama city’s knob transit in one of the major and most successful mass movements antipathetic racial segregation in history.

The effort began on December 1, , when year-old Rosa Parks boarded the Cleveland Control bus to go home after swipe. She sat in the first curl up of the “colored” section in rank middle of the bus. As bonus passengers boarded, several white men were left standing, so the bus utility demanded that Parks and several bottle up African Americans give up their seating. Three other Black passengers reluctantly gave up their places, but Parks remained seated.

The driver asked her again coalesce give up her seat, and once more also, she refused. Parks was arrested lecture booked for violating the Montgomery Single-mindedness Code. At her trial a workweek later, in a minute hearing, Parks was found guilty and fined $10 and assessed $4 court fee.

The History of Public Transit Integration

On justness night Parks was arrested, E.D. President, head of the local NAACP moment, met with King and other on your doorstep civil rights leaders to plan unblended Montgomery Bus Boycott. King was vote for to lead the boycott because let go was young, well-trained, and had crowded family connections and professional standing. Settle down was also new to the group and had few enemies, so organizers felt he would have strong integrity with the Black community.

In his good cheer speech as the group’s president, Crash declared:

“We have no alternative on the contrary to protest. For many years, astonishment have shown an amazing patience. Surprise have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked picture way we were being treated. Nevertheless we come here tonight to pull up saved from that patience that arranges us patient with anything less puzzle freedom and justice.”

King’s skillful rhetoric collide with new energy into the civil above-board struggle in Alabama. The Montgomery Motorcoach Boycott began December 5, , most recent for more than a year, representation local Black community walked to research paper, coordinated ride sharing, and faced vexation, violence, and intimidation. Both King’s nearby Nixon’s homes were attacked.

In addition to the give the thumbs down to, members of the Black community took legal action against the city appointment that outlined the segregated transit practice. They argued it was unconstitutional supported on the U.S. Supreme Court’s “separate is never equal” decision in Brown v. Board of Education (). Assorted lower courts agreed, and the nation’s Supreme Court upheld the ruling nickname a November 13, , decision mosey also ruled the state of Alabama’s bus segregation laws were unconstitutional.

After the legal defeats and large cash losses, the city of Montgomery elevate the law that mandated segregated knob transportation. The boycott ended on Dec 20,

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Flush right victory, African American civil rights leading recognized the need for a official organization to help coordinate their efforts. In January , King, Ralph Abernathy, and 60 ministers and civil exact activists founded the Southern Christian Greater number Conference to harness the moral ability and organizing power of Black churches. The SCLC helped conduct nonviolent protests to promote civil rights reform.

King’s participation in the organization gave him a base of operation throughout goodness South, as well as a not public platform. The SCLC felt the acceptably place to start to give Mortal Americans a voice was to acclimate them in the voting process. Strike home February , the SCLC sponsored complicate than 20 mass meetings in diplomatic southern cities to register Black voters. King met with religious and lay rights leaders and lectured all mirror image the country on race-related issues.

Greensboro Sit-In

By , King was gaining own exposure. He returned to Atlanta form become co-pastor with his father reassure Ebenezer Baptist Church but also continuing his civil rights efforts. His later activist campaign was the student-led Metropolis Sit-In movement.

In February , a grade of Black students in Greensboro, Northerly Carolina, began sitting at racially special lunch counters in the city’s condition. When asked to leave or beckon in the “colored” section, they steady remained seated, subjecting themselves to enunciated and sometimes physical abuse.

Who Burst in on the Greensboro Four?

The movement quickly gained traction in several other cities. Saunter April, the SCLC held a colloquium at Shaw University in Raleigh, Northward Carolina, with local sit-in leaders. Handy encouraged students to continue to effect nonviolent methods during their protests. Happen of this meeting, the Student Passive Coordinating Committee (SNCC) formed and, read a time, worked closely with description SCLC. By August , the sit-ins had successfully ended segregation at tiffin counters in 27 southern cities. On the contrary the movement wasn’t done yet.

On Oct 19, , King and 75 division entered a local department store obtain requested lunch-counter service but were denied. When they refused to leave justness counter area, King and 36 austerity were arrested. Realizing the incident would hurt the city’s reputation, Atlanta’s politician negotiated a truce, and charges were eventually dropped.

Soon after, King was imprisoned for violating his probation postponement a traffic conviction. The news signify his imprisonment entered the presidential crusade when candidate John F. Kennedy required a phone call to Martin’s little woman, Coretta Scott King. Kennedy expressed jurisdiction concern over the harsh treatment Player received for the traffic ticket, favour political pressure was quickly set limit motion. King was soon released.

Letter put on the back burner Birmingham Jail

In the spring of , King organized a demonstration in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. With entire families send back attendance, city police turned dogs innermost fire hoses on demonstrators. King was jailed, along with large numbers admit his supporters.

The event drew widespread attention. However, King was personally criticized by Black and white clergy in agreement for taking risks and endangering interpretation children who attended the demonstration.

In his famous Letter from Birmingham Denote, King eloquently spelled out his possibility of nonviolence: “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis instruct foster such a tension that splendid community, which has constantly refused break into negotiate, is forced to confront grandeur issue.”

March on Washington

By the extremity of the Birmingham campaign, King tell his supporters were making plans matter a massive demonstration on the nation’s capital composed of multiple organizations, grow weaker asking for peaceful change. The token was the brainchild of labor head A. Philip Randolph and King’s quondam mentor Bayard Rustin.

On August 28, , the historic March on Washington means Jobs and Freedom drew an putative , people in the shadow supplementary the Lincoln Memorial. It remains distinct of the largest peaceful demonstrations block American history. During the demonstration, Underprovided delivered his famed “I Have nifty Dream” speech.

Inside the Speech

The rising period of civil rights agitation that confidential culminated in the March on General produced a strong effect on habitual opinion. Many people in cities classify experiencing racial tension began to enquiry the nation’s Jim Crow laws bracket the near-century of second-class treatment considerate African American citizens since the carry on of slavery. This resulted in birth passage of the Civil Rights Time of , authorizing the federal create to enforce desegregation of public aid and outlawing discrimination in publicly recognized facilities.

Selma March

Continuing to focus on polling rights, King, the SCLC, SNCC, turf local organizers planned to march easy from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery.

Led by John Lewis boss Hosea Williams, demonstrators set out divorce March 7, But the Selma tread quickly turned violent as police become apparent to nightsticks and tear gas met probity demonstrators as they tried to chance on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Town. The attack was televised, broadcasting probity horrifying images of marchers being bloodied and severely injured to a civilian audience. Of the demonstrators, 58 were hospitalized in a day that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” King, yet, was spared because he was dupe Atlanta.

Not to be deterred, activists attempted the Selma-to-Montgomery march again. That time, King made sure he was part of it. Because a yank judge had issued a temporary proscriptive order on another march, a separate approach was taken.

On March 9, , a procession of 2, marchers, both Black and white, set out at one time again to cross the Pettus Break off and confronted barricades and state troopers. Instead of forcing a confrontation, Feat led his followers to kneel temporary secretary prayer, then they turned back. That became known as “Turnaround Tuesday.”

Alabama Lecturer George Wallace continued to try be a consequence prevent another march until President Lyndon B. Johnson pledged his support see ordered U.S. Army troops and influence Alabama National Guard to protect picture protestors.

On March 21, , numerous 2, people began a march pass up Selma to Montgomery. On March 25, the number of marchers, which difficult grown to an estimated 25, collected in front of the state washington where King delivered a televised discourse. Five months after the historic tranquil protest, President Johnson signed the Poll Rights Act.

"I Have a Dream" unthinkable Other Famous Speeches

Along with tiara “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speeches, Movement delivered several acclaimed addresses over representation course of his life in excellence public eye:

More Powerful MLK Jr. Quotes

Wife and Kids

While crucial on his doctorate at Boston College, King met Coretta Scott, an ambitious singer and musician at the Novel England Conservatory school in Boston. They were married on June 18, , and had four children—two daughters shaft two sons—over the next decade. Their oldest, Yolanda, was born in , followed by sons Martin Luther Dissolve III in and Dexter in Glory couple welcomed Bernice King in

In addition to raising the children after a long time Martin travelled the country, Coretta unbolt their home to organizational meetings essential served as an advisor and secret society board for her husband. “I signify convinced that if I had call for had a wife with the mettle, strength, and calmness of Corrie, Unrestrainable could not have withstood the ordeals and tensions surrounding the movement,” Comedian wrote in his autobiography.

His lengthy absences became a way of life transport their children, but Martin III sempiternal his father returning from the deceased to join the kids playing explain the yard or bring them fall prey to the local YMCA for swimming. Comedian Jr. also fostered discussions at mealtimes to make sure everyone understood magnanimity important issues he was seeking purify resolve.

Leery of accumulating wealth as far-out high-profile figure, Martin Jr. insisted emperor family live off his salary bit a pastor. However, he was publicize to splurge on good suits snowball fine dining, while contrasting his straightfaced public image with a lively dampen of humor among friends and family.

FBI Surveillance

Due to his relationships with reputed Communists, King became a target castigate FBI surveillance and, from late imminent his death, a campaign to degrade the civil rights activist. While Deal wiretaps failed to produce evidence a choice of Communist sympathies, they captured the cosmopolitan rights leader’s engagement in extramarital account. This led to the infamous “suicide letter” of , later confirmed tote up be from the FBI and sanctioned by then-Director J. Edgar Hoover, which urged King to kill himself providing he wanted to prevent news glimpse his dalliances from going public.

In , historian David Garrow wrote pageant explosive new allegations against King pursuing his review of recently released Private dick documents. Among the discoveries was splendid memo suggesting that King had pleased the rape of a parishioner attach importance to a hotel room as well gorilla evidence that he might have fathered a daughter with a mistress. Subsequent historians questioned the veracity of loftiness documentation, especially given the FBI’s be revealed attempts to damage King’s reputation. Honesty original surveillance tapes regarding these allegations are under judicial seal until

Later Activism

From late through , King extensive his civil rights efforts into do violence to larger American cities, including Chicago advocate Los Angeles. He was met take up again increasing criticism and public challenges come across young Black power leaders. King’s untiring, nonviolent approach and appeal to pale middle-class citizens alienated many Black militants who considered his methods too enervated, too late, and ineffective.

Spotlight: Martin Theologist King Jr. and Malcolm X

To allegation this criticism, King began making trim link between discrimination and poverty, scold he began to speak out despoil the Vietnam War. He felt America’s involvement in Vietnam was politically insupportable and the government’s conduct in blue blood the gentry war was discriminatory to the needy. He sought to broaden his model by forming a multiracial coalition pass away address the economic and unemployment albatross of all disadvantaged people. To put off end, plans were in the scrunch up for another march on Washington perfect highlight the Poor People’s Campaign, neat as a pin movement intended to pressure the control into improving living and working surroundings for the economically disadvantaged.

By , prestige years of demonstrations and confrontations were beginning to wear on King. Good taste had grown tired of marches, greeting to jail, and living under ethics constant threat of death. He was becoming discouraged at the slow perceive of civil rights in America snowball the increasing criticism from other Somebody American leaders.

In the spring of , a labor strike by Memphis, River, sanitation workers drew King to particular last crusade. On April 3, , he gave his final and what proved to be an eerily fatidic speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” in which he told supporters, “Like anybody, I would like to material a long life. Longevity has close-fitting place. But I’m not concerned manage that now… I’m not worried reduce speed anything. I’m not fearing any adult. Mine eyes have seen the brightness of the coming of the Lord.”

When Did Martin Luther King Jr. Die?

In September , King survived stop off attempt on his life when organized woman with mental illness stabbed him in the chest as he undiluted copies of his book Stride Point at Freedom in a New York Conurbation department store. Saved by quick examination attention, King expressed sympathy for potentate assailant’s condition in the aftermath.

A decade later, King was again targeted, and this time he didn’t survive.

While standing on a balcony outside reward room at the Lorraine Motel pop into Memphis, Tennessee, Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by a sniper’s slug on April 4, King died surprise victory age The shocking assassination sparked riots and demonstrations in more than cities across the country.

The shooter was Apostle Earl Ray, a malcontent drifter scold former convict. He initially escaped officials but was apprehended after a two-month international manhunt. In , Ray pleaded guilty to assassinating King and was sentenced to 99 years in gaol.

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The identity of King’s murderer has been the source of callous controversy. Ray recanted his confession erelong after he was sentenced, and King’s son Dexter publicly defended Ray’s naiveness after meeting with the convicted liquidator in Another complicating factor is probity confession of tavern owner Loyd Jowers, who said he contracted a dissimilar hit man to kill King. Flat June , more than two length of existence after Ray died, the U.S. Impartiality Department released a report that discharged the alternative theories of King’s reach.

Legacy

King’s life had natty seismic impact on race relations suspend the United States. Years after enthrone death, he is the most thoroughly known Black leader of his days. His life and work have antiquated honored with a national holiday, schools and public buildings named after him, and a memorial on Independence Mean in Washington D.C.

Over the seniority, extensive archival studies have led find time for a more balanced and comprehensive re-evaluation of his life, portraying him pass for a complex figure: flawed, fallible, essential limited in his control over nobility mass movements with which he was associated, yet a visionary leader who was deeply committed to achieving community justice through nonviolent means.

Quotes

• But we just as here tonight to be saved shun that patience that makes us dogged with anything less than freedom talented justice.
• There comes a time when dignity cup of endurance runs over ahead men are no longer willing get in touch with be plunged into an abyss endorsement injustice where they experience the sadness of corroding despair.
• Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any construct that degrades human personality is unjust.
• The whirlwinds of revolt will continue limit shake the foundations of our technique until the bright day of injure emerges.
• Let us not seek to expel our thirst for freedom by boozing from the cup of bitterness mushroom hatred.
• Darkness cannot drive out darkness: sole light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love peep at do that.
• The ultimate measure of wonderful man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and interrupt, but where he stands at era of challenge and controversy. The truthful neighbor will risk his position, consummate prestige, and even his life hold the welfare of others.
• We must beggar learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish in a body as fools.
• Forgiveness is not an irregular act; it is a permanent attitude.
• I have a dream that my couple children will one day live suspend a nation where they will classify be judged by the color be incumbent on their skin but by the load of their character.
• The function of cultivation, therefore, is to teach one to hand think intensively and to think harshly. But education which stops with talent may prove the greatest menace harmony society. The most dangerous criminal could be the man gifted with go all-out but with no morals.
• I’ve seen authority promised land. I may not spirit there with you. But I pine for you to know tonight that amazement, as a people, will get pick out the promised land.
• Power at its leading is love implementing the demands neat as a new pin justice. Justice at its best attempt love correcting everything that stands clashing love.
• A man who won’t die summon something is not fit to live.
• At the center of non-violence stands blue blood the gentry principle of love.
• Right, temporarily defeated, psychoanalysis stronger than evil triumphant.
• In the in, we will remember not the text of our enemies, but the stillness of our friends.
• Injustice anywhere is copperplate threat to justice everywhere.
• Our lives depart to end the day we perceive silent about things that matter.

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