Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Assassinated 50 Years ago.
Nonviolence or Nonexistence?
Fifty years ago, on April 4, 1968, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
The night before Dr. King died at the age of 39, he gave the last speech of his life at the packed Bishop Charles Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in Memphis to march with sanitation workers on strike. His last speech included these words:
“Men for years now have been talking about war and peace. Now no longer can they just talk about it. It is no longer a choice between violence and non-violence in this world, it is non-violence or non-existence. That is where we are today.”
King spoke about the importance of staying together, being united in the struggle. Don’t let opponents divide us. Keep the issues clear and up front and never give up even when threats are made on our lives. Dr. King concluded his speech with these words: See 3 minutes of his speech here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk
“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”
“Well, I don’t know what will happen now; we’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life–longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Dr. King’s life and message was an embrace of nonviolence, what we in Hawaii call Kapu Aloha. King had been inspired by his Christian faith and the Hindu, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a leader of India’s independence from the British empire. Dr. King’s concerns were broad. He said:
“The Triple Evils of poverty, racism and militarism are forms of violence that exist in a vicious cycle. They are interrelated, all-inclusive, and stand as barriers to our living in the Beloved Community. When we work to remedy one evil, we affect all evils.” See ‘The King Philosophy’.
Dr. King committed his life to building “The Beloved Community” and taking down the barriers of evil and changing the system that profits from such barriers. Let us carry on. Make Dr. King’s work our work too!
- Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org
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April 6, 2018 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet — 863rd week – Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
