Remarks by Bruce Popper at the 29th Annual Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation)Closing Remarks by Bruce Popper

29th Annual Celebration of the Life and Legacy of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

University of Rochester Medical Center
January 18, 2010

    When we last gathered here, one year ago, our spirits were high.  We were on the eve of the inauguration of one of our own, a leader we had helped to elect, a progressive president of the United States of America, a former organizer, a man who quotes Dr. King and means it.  The long night appeared over.

    Our new president warned us that this was just the beginning of battle, not its end.  How right he turned out to be.

    We now recognize how fragile victory is.  We now see how deep the forces of injustice are imbedded in our society, how they will cling to wealth and power, and use any means of obstruction, manipulation, and duplicity to defend their unjust status quo.

    We worked for change.  We campaigned for change.  We voted for change.  But the opponents of change have fought back.  They have effectively diluted health care reform.  They have stopped worker rights from even being debated.  They even threaten tomorrow to take the Senate seat held so long by the late Ted Kennedy.

    Dr. King’s last organizing project was planing the Poor People’s March on Washington, DC.  Dr. King knew that without economic justice, there could be no legal equality.  There could be no social justice.

    Dr. King realized how hard and how long this struggle would be.  How long it had taken to get this far.  How long it would take to finally win.

    So in this moment, I bid you to keep up the struggle.  To rededicate yourself, to speak truth to power, to volunteer, to organize.  We now have powerful allies, but they are embattled and need our help, the help of those of us who are have persevered, of those who are new, and of those who come after us.
    I leave you today with Dr. King’s last public words, spoken sat the end of that fateful union meeting the striking Memphis sanitation workers:

    “Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it 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 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.”