>> on cspan today, the dedication ceremony for the martin luther king jr. memorial in washington. the reagan presidential library on the reagan administration policies of intelligence in fighting the cold war. later, a world aids day discussion about treating and stopping the spread of the disease. >> tonight, of wall street journal senior technology editor will talk about privacy issues and the cookies and super cookies the track for users go back eric schmidt, chairman of google and expressed them really well. he said i don't think we really understand the implications of living in this society where everything we do is being watched. our funds are transmitting our location and our computers are

transmitting everything we are looking at. it is becoming a situation where we actually are creating a total surveillance system. >> tonight at 8:00 on "the communicators." midland's high-school students, for this years studentcam video contest, we want to tell you what part of the constitution has meaning to you and why. let us know and a five-eight minute documentary and get it to cspan by january 20 for your chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. there is $50,000 in total prices. the contest is open for grades 6-12. go on line to studentcam.org. >> president obama was among those who gathered in october for the dedication at the martin luther king jr. national memorial. other attendees included the

children and sister of dr. king, former cbs news anchor dan rather, interior secretary ken salazar and civil-rights leaders like jesse jackson, al sharpton, julian bond, joseph lowery, and congressman john lewis. there were musical performances by a wreath at franklin and stevie wonder. from the national mall in washington, d.c., this is a little over three hours. ♪ >> o say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we

held at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there that stars spangled banner yet wave

o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. ♪ home of the brave ♪ [applause] [drum roll]

♪ [choir singing] [choir singing]

[choir singing] [choir singing] [choir singing]

[choir singing] [choir singing] ♪ [choir singing]

[choir singing]

[choir singing] [choir singing] ♪ [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. [no audio] >> and now we welcome master of ceremonies, gwen gfill. [applause] >> good morning.

you have no idea how beautiful you all look today. [applause] thank you all for joining us here on the national mall in washington, d.c. finally on a beautiful, sunny day. [applause] and welcome to everyone across the country and around the world watching and listening. today we celebrate the dream and rededicate the martin luther king jr. memorial. reaching this day and getting to this destination has been a long journey, marked by setbacks ansgar's woven deeply into the fabric of our american history. the journey began long before any of us here today were even born. is a journey that paves new paths to freedom and justice and the dawn of the civil-rights movement and it is not yet

sunset. it would be easier to dwell on the diversity, on the adversity, the indignities, the injustice but then perhaps we would give short shrift to the inspiration that arose from every challenge we faced. dr. king knew well about the uncast promissory note but also embraced the dream. today in the shadow of this magnificent monument, we get to your reflections from those who marched with them or inspired by him and those of us who benefited from his vision. dr. king would have been the first to say that his vision was not a unique one but he gave it eloquent voice. he gave voice to men like my father, an african methodist preacher who taught his children to say thank you and we were insulted and take the sting out of hateful words. he gave voice to women like my mother who guarded her children

fiercely and never told her daughter's there was something they could not do. he gave voice to many of them still striving -- striving to be heard any gave backbone to the town -- downtrodden who discovered they did not have to stay on the ground. yesterday i decided to use a little bit of today's technology to bring some of those voices to life. i went on twitter and i asked what martin luther king jr. means to you today. the answer came immediately. one young girl from harlem wrote -- she is an attorney. i tried daily to live his words. we should all be graced because we can all serve. jerry from tulsa road he helped weed out people around me who were bigoted by the way they reacted to his message.

a vice president and senior editor at atria books wrote that he continues to teach meet with his use of language and wisdom, the strength to love is like scripture for me still. the singer anita baker sent along a quote that helps her daily. there comes a time when silence is the trial. -- is betrayal. he spoke of hopes and expectations end of a dream deeply rooted in the american dream. now here to deliver the invocation and car -- on this blessed momentous day, we welcome dr. joe samuel ratliff. [applause] >> may we pray --

we have crossed this river but oceans lie ahead, oceans of challenges, opportunities. we think this -- we thank thee this day co got for the journey. we thank you this day for all you have afforded us as we pursue democracy, love, justice, and peace. now, when our ears become too full of our own sounds and our eyes to follow our own visions, break through the narrow constructs of our minds and liberate us to continue to fight and struggle and make the dream come true. it is in his name that we relate -- that is more than able to keep usable amen.

>> ladies and gentlemen, the hon. vincent gray, mayor of the district of columbia. [applause] >> good morning. it is my great honor to welcome all of you this morning to the nation's capital, the city that has the privilege of hosting this long awaited and long overdue memorial. the district of columbia is proud to serve as home to the king memorial celebrating the american ideals that dr. king so heroically sought to make a reality. freedom, equality, justice, and a democracy. today, we glorify honor dr. king's legacy and his dream.

sadly, with the 601,000 residents of the district, that dream remains unfulfilled. as a resident of the district of columbia, i know all too well that sadly most americans do not know that if you live in washington, d.c., you do not have a vote in congress. we pay our nation's taxes. we fight our nation's wars but we have no vote. ironically, the nation's capital is the last remaining battle front of the american revolution. residents of the district of columbia live and what our nation's founders right called a state of tierney, a taxation without representation. in 1966, dr. king marched in our streets calling for an end to this injustice. he decried the plight of our

residents when he said," congress has been derelict in their duties and sacred responsibility to make justice and freedom a reality for all citizens of the district of columbia." and yet, all these years later, those who live in our city are still denied the basic rights of self-determination and representation as afforded to other americans. the district of columbia cannot approve our own local budget, our own local laws without permission from congress in which we have no voting voice. day in and day out, d.c. residents live under the yoke of injustice and ladies and gentlemen, it is time for this to end. [applause] and so, as we celebrate this momentous dedication, i implore all of you, i implore you, mr.

president, i implore the members of congress, stand with the people of the district of columbia. stand with the legacy of dr. king. remove the shackles of oppression so that when americans dutifully recited the pledge of allegiance, we truly mean liberty and justice for all. [applause] and so, on behalf of the citizens of the district of columbia, let me underscore how honored we are to host our city the stunning memorial to an extraordinary man and his powerful dream of freedom and democracy. we join with all americans of good will to keep up the fight to make dr. king's dreamy reality. thank you very much. [applause] >> and now it is my honor to introduce a man who has been on

the cutting edge of social change since his days as a college student leading student demonstrations in atlanta in 1960. from founder of the student nonviolent coordinating committee at morehouse college to chairman of the naacp who is president and prof. of history at the university of virginia, julian bond has been an active participant in the movement for several rights, economic justice, and peace and an aggressive spokesman for the disinherited. ladies and gentleman, please welcome the hon. julian bond. [applause] >> thank you, gwen. i am one of those votesless citizens of the district of columbia. the man we honor today was my neighbor and friend and my teacher at morehouse college in atlanta. that means i have known his

children since they were children and his sister just as long. his family and mine live next to each other and the people will follow me to this podium were constant presences in our neighborhood. i was not far from him on that magic day in august when he delivered his famous speech. his heart summarize all that he meant was when he was alive and how great our loss is now upon his death. the true measure of any man is how his message continues on after he has passed from the same. we have very reason proof that martin luther king meets that standard. 32-year-old winner of the nobel peace prize said last week that martin luther king inspired me most because he saw a change peacefully. also, gondi, nelson mandela but

to the largest extent is martin luther king. we try to use change by using the same at this. martin luther king's methods resonate around the world just as its third millions of us and continues to do so today. since he died, a constant question i have received when every racial advance occurred was -- what would dr. king had said about this? what would he say when america elected its first black president? would he think this achievement was a confirmation of his dream? would he say that these things would not have happened if he had not lived? i have always felt he would be pleased whenever any element of racial progress occurs but he would not think that nirvana had come and would not try to claim credit for everything. this is what i think he would want us to say today, what he said at his last sermon -- he said," i would like somebody to mention that day that martin luther king jr. tried to give his life serving others.

i would like for somebody to say that david martin luther king jr. tried to love somebody. i want you to say that day that i tried to be right on the war question. i want you to say that day that i tried to feed the hungry. i want you to be able to say that day that i did try in my life to close the those were naked and i wanted to say that day that i did try in my life to visit those who are in prison. i want you to say that i tried to love and serve humanity. yes, if you want to say i was a drum major, say i was a drum major for justice. say that i was a drum major for peace. i was a drum major for righteousness. racial equality, economic justice, world peace for the things that occupied dr. king's life and have occupied the lives of his family members, three of whom are with us today. here to tell us of their father and brother of dr. king's eldest son, martin luther king iii, daughter and child rev. bernice,

and dr. christine farris, his sister. let us welcome dr. christine king farris. [applause] >> thank you. thank you, mr. bond. king family, out of the health of for eternity, and martin luther king and dedication staff, friends all, and all of you a symbol here today. i stand before you today as the person who knew martin luther

king jr. longer than anyone now a lot of. allied. in fact, i was there in our home the day that he was born on january 16, 1929. he was my little brother and i watched him grow and develop into a man who was destined for a very special kind of greatness. it has been quite a journey from that cold january day more than 82 years ago on down to today when i first laid my eyes on my baby brother. now i am standing here alongside to an african american

president at the dedication of the martin luther king jr. memorial on the national mall. [applause] during my life, i witnessed a baby become a great hero to humanity who provides hope and inspiration for freedom loving people everywhere. i just want to say to all the young people coming up, great dreams can come true and america is a place where you can make it happen. i know that our president will agree with me on this. it was not far from here where my brother martin told america about his great dream for our country on this day 48 years ago.

it was the dream of justice, equality, and the brotherhood he shared with us on that sweltering august afternoon. it is really the heart and soul of the american dream. it is what this country must always be about so we can light the way forward to a new era of peace and prosperity for all people in all nations. i remember another lovely afternoon in 1983 when another president of the united states signed into law a bill to name my brother's birthday a federal holiday. that, too, was a day of hope and healing. i don't think my brother's

legacy could get much larger but i was wrong because here i am overjoyed and humbled to see this great day when my brother martin takes his symbolic place on the national mall. [applause] on this national mall near america's greatest presidents including abraham lincoln, thomas jefferson, and franklin roosevelt's. . this is just overwhelming. my brother was never one to secret honors. in fact, he was so self-effacing and he was amazed and humble the to receive the nobel prize for peace back in 1964.

i want to thank the alpha by elf of a fraternity -- the alpha by alpha fraternity for having the commitment and dedication and determination to oversee this project and to see it through. by honoring martin luther king jr. with such a wonderful statute on the national mall, you have insured that his legacy will provide a source of inspiration for people from all over the world for generations to come. my brother was an alibi himself and he was proud of his fraternity brothers when they came to the aid of a non- violent his freedom struggle again and again with urgently

needed contributions and volunteer support and now against all odds, you have built this beautiful monument which brings honor to our country and hope to coming generations. in closing, i want to thank each of you for joining us today. your presence is also an affirmation of my brother's legacy and the great lesson of that -- of diversity in red -- and america. let this wonderful day mark another step towards the fullness of the dream and let all parts be joined together as we move forward into the future

united and determined to create the beloved community in america and throughout the world. i thank you. [applause] [applause] >> please welcome rev. bernice came. [applause] e king. [applause] >> i certainly thank god for the

presence of our aunt, mrs. christine king farris. good morning, everybody. thank you for joining us today as we dedicate this monumental to a man of inspiring vision and transformative action, my father, dr. martin luther king jr.. it has been a long time coming, the vision of my father's fraternity, aplha phi ap [lha bill does-and the establishment of a foundation led by mr. harry johnson and 11 staff persons and acts of congress, 10 years of fund-raising and a lot of hard work, an earthquake, and a hurricane but today, we are here. [applause] and thank god we are here. it is a great time of celebration and the entire king family is brought to witness

this day. i am especially proud to stand here as one of the four children to whom my father referred to as he resounded the american dream that one day we would live in a nation where we would not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character. today represents another stone in the life of america. this is a day that all americans can be proud of and may i remind you that this is not just a celebration for african- americans but for americans and citizens are around this world. [applause] no doubt, today the world celebrates with us. today our nation acknowledges its growth again for this memorial represents a step beyond its laws of segregation, it symbolizes that a black preacher profit from the sound

and effective of social change that helped redeem the soul of america. i want to express my gratitude to each person, each organization, each corporation, each entity that contributed to what we see here today from its conception to its realization. however, we would be remiss if we did not also recognize and honor the life and legacy of my mother, mrs. coretta scott king. [applause] after the assassination of my father, she raced up four children and my mother with her dedicated entirely efforts raised a nation in our fathers teachings and values.

it was vitally important for her that his life, words, and principles become institutionalized. so she spearheaded the effort even as a grieving widow to establish the king center in atlanta as the official living memorial to martin luther king jr. and then went on to champion a national holiday commemorating our father's birthday and a host of other. she paved the way and that a possible for a man who was the most hated man in america in 1968 to now be one of the most revered and loved men in the world. [applause] so that we might be able to build a monument in his honor. thank you, mama, for your dedication. thank you, mama for your sacrifice and we as your children are glad that we were

able to share our parents with the world so that we could be in a better place. [applause] but she did not just institutionalize his words or principles so that we could only remember him but also so we could be propelled into action, utilizing his philosophy and strategies of nonviolence. it is no accident that the official dedication could not occur on august 28, the anniversary of the "i have a dream" speech. although powerful and prophetic and passionate and one of the most well-known speeches around this world, could be perhaps that the dedication would not take place on the anniversary of that great speech and that is

indicative of god wanted us to move forward to look at the rest of king, that as we survey the current advance and those who cry for alleviation of poverty and economics, oppression, we are being pulled from the familiar place and the comfort place of all i have a dream to focusing on another aspect of dr. king's life. perhaps the postponement was a divine interruption to remind us of the king that move us beyond the dream of racial justice to the actions and work of economic justice. perhaps god wanted to remind us that 43 years ago when our father was taken from us that he was in the midst of starting a poor people's campaign where he was galvanizing poor people from

all walks of life to converge on this nation's capital and stay here and occupy this place, until that was changed in the economic system and a better distribution of wealth. perhaps god wanted us to move beyond the dream into action and maybe we were unable to dedicate this monument on august 28 just because of that and he said to us it is time to readjust. in fact, over 43 years ago, he told us that we must become maladjusted to certain social ills. we should never adjust to the 1% controlling more than 40% of the wealth. we should never adjust to an unprecedented number of people being unemployed. we should never adjust to any person being without health care because they cannot afford it.

we should never adjust to an increase of people moving into poverty. we should never adjust to violence of any form, bullying or being bullied. we should never adjust to policies and practices that profile people because of their color, their ethnicity, or their nation of origin. we should never adjust to a judicial system that allows us to take a life when guilt is yet in question. [applause] and so, as we dedicate this monument, i can hear my father saying that oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. the yearning for freedom and eventually manifest itself as we dedicate this monument. i hear my father is saying that

what we are seeing now all across the streets of america and the world is a freedom explosion, the deep rumbling of discontent that we hear today is the founder of disinherited masses rising from the dungeons of oppression to the bright peals of freedom. i hear my father saying as we protest, we must conduct ourselves on a higher plane of dignity and discipline. i hear my father saying we must have a radical revolution of values and a reordering of our priorities in this nation. i hear my father saying as we dedicate this monument, we must rapidly began the shift from a thing-oriented society to a people-oriented society. i hear my father saying that one of the great liabilities of our

history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. every society, he says, has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the in different who are notorious for sleeping. to. but today, he said our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake and adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change. these words dripping with truth and conviction, as much now as they were when originally spoken, could if we allow them to propel us to action. it would be action that response to the discontent of the disinherited, that we stand together in seeking a

distributed inheritance for all. actions that reflect our commitment to not allowing a focus on gaining fangs, to deter us from compassionately engaging people, actions that reverberate with a common desire for the manifestation of freedom, actions that resonate with the discontented masses supporting social change and demonstrating that we are alerts during this time of economic revolution. and so i say in closing, let us walk together, children, and not get weary. let us work together, children, and not get weary. let us struggled together, children, and not get weary. let us hold on together, children, and not get weary. lesbos, fight, but get over it together, children, and not get weary. but most of all, we must pray together, children, or we will

get weary and one day we will all be able to say free at last, free at last, thank god almighty, we are all free at last. god bless you. [applause] >> please welcome martin luther king ththird iii. >> first let me thank god for the opportunity to be here on this day that many in our nation would say is a sovereign debt.

to each and every dignitary here, and i would say that to everybody, but to especially brother harry johnston and his staff for the tireless work to make this memorial a reality, we first say thank you. also to the martin luther king foundation board, to each and every contributor, every corporation but perhaps most of all to the masses of americans who chose to contribute to this effort that would not be here but by the contributions of men and women and families. we thank each of you and

everyone of you. on behalf of my wife andrea and my daughter, we say thank you. today we have come to participate in this unveiling ceremony to my father and celebrate his legacy. let us not forget that he paid the ultimate price for our civil rights. he was a champion of human rights and social justice for all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality. we must stand up for social and economic justice. 48 years ago, my father stood in this vicinity in the shadows of lincoln memorial and gave a speech that was to resonate around the world. he said that he had a dream

that with faith in ourselves and in our country we will be able to hew out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope, that we would be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood and sisterhood that with faith, we would be able to work together and stand up for freedom together knowing that one day we would all be free. i repeat his words because i believe that it is important to emphasize that while it is great to have this immoral to his memory and it is great to have a national holiday and it is great to have schools and hospitals and streets named after him all over our nation and world, it is also important to not place too much emphasis on martin luther king the idle but not enough emphasis on the ideals of martin luther king jr. [applause]

while we commemorate his memory today with this great memorial, let us not confuse nor forget what he stood for and died for. the young people around this nation organizing are very interesting but let us not forget the ideals he gave up his life for -- life, love, peace, equality, jobs, education, non- violence, decent housing, and an end to war. the young people of the occupy movement all over this country are seeking justice. justice for the unemployed searching for months for jobs and those among them have not given up in despair, justice for working-class people barely making it, justice for middle- class folks who are not able to pay their mortgages, justice for

elders terrified they are losing the value of their savings and their health care, justice for the young people who graduate from college, are unemployed and burdened by student loans they cannot repay. justice for everyone who are simply asking the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share. sometimes we get caught up in the brand of my father but we forget to focus on the beliefs of my father. we must stand up for economic injustice -- economic justice. we have lost our love, are true force. you could make this argument that we have ultimately lost our souls. we have lost our souls when i see that a 49-year-old black man was brutally murdered in mississippi not in 1963 but in

june of 2011. we have lost our souls and i see children bullying other children and young teenagers killing each other. we lost our souls when prisons are a growth industry and the prisons are filled every day with more people than any other industrialized nation. there are more black and brown folks in prison than college. that must change. we've lost our souls when the united states supreme court, the supreme law of the land, decided to strike down a state law that regulates the sale of violent video games to children. we have lost our souls went 30 years of failed public policy have reduced regressive tax rates for the rich while breaking the backs of the poor. , unions, and the middle class. turning the world into an economic crisis. we have lost our souls and we

continue to fight two wars which have cost us $3 trillion and cost thousands of american lives and iraqi lives and afghan allies and others. we must stand up for economic justice. we are here to celebrate the life of my father and commemorate my father but we need to try to live like him, to love like him, and to care like him. yes, my father had a dream, a dream that he says was deeply embedded in the american dream. the american dream of 50 years ago was two cars, a house, and a dog can spot and that has turned into a nightmare for millions. for millions of americans, there is no house because they have no job. they cannot give their kids the proper tools to prepare them for a better life than they had. i submit that we need a new american dream, a dream of

interconnectedness, a dream of mutual purpose, a dream of caring and being responsible for each of us. we need to live up to the promise and get out into that majestically held and that statute we call a statue of america. it says give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. we need to understand that none of us are free until all this can be free. we need to have a new spirit of cooperation in this country based on love, respect, and sensitivity to the least of these among us. that is what my father wanted for this country. while i am proud of this great memorial to my father, i hope it will serve as a catalyst for us to adopt his ideals and beliefs, a renewal of decency, sensitivity, and love.

love he so often talked about. we must stand up for that justice because now is the time for all humankind. america, this is our chance. this is our opportunity to show the world our greatness and throw off the shackles of all of the conservative policies that exclude masses of people. we must finally get rid of racism. today at this great moment in our collective history, i ask you to join with me as the head of the martin luther king jr. center for non-violence, the center for justice and social unrest, everywhere we must build a brighter day for everyone and create the opportunity for people to once again acquire wealth. therefore, we will ultimately triumph over those triple evils

of poverty, racism, and militarism that my father championed. let us embrace dad's legacy and celebrate his life and more importantly, let us live as dr. king envisioned when he describes all of our destinies are tied together. we are linked together. i cannot be what i can be until you are what you can be. our destinies are tied together is what he said. let us meet the challenges today to finally embrace and become what we know we must become. that is a beloved community. no matter how far we have to go and probably have a long way to go, it may get worse before it gets better. do not in many ways get tired because we have truly gone much too far from where we started. nobody ever told any of us that our roles would be easy. did not bring us

this far to leave us. thank you very much in god bless eac and everyone of you always. [applause] [applause] [no audio] [applause] >> from their grammy award winning album," thankful," mary mary performs.

"i don't feel no ways tired." >> it is an honor and privilege to be here and part of his dedication ceremony and we know that we did not get here alone and we know that god did not bring us this far to leave us. ♪ that is not our track. [laughter] it was lovely, though. if we need to, we can sing this at capella. ♪ hereu didn't bring me out to leave me, no, only

even when, when i can see clearly, yeah. >> i know that you are with me so i can. me. i can't give up now. i have come too far from where i stood. >> nobody told me, oh no, that this road would be i don't believe you brought me this far to leave me, no. . cannot give up now includ >> i can't give up now. i have come too far.

from where i started from. it's not going to be but i don't believe wave your hands if you believe it. ♪ we've come too far no ever -- nobody ever told me that this would be easy. roughs been a little but i don't believe it. ♪

i've come to far from where i started from no one said it would be easy nobody believe he's brought made as far to leave me ♪ whoa, i don't believe god has brought me this far to leave may. ♪ god bless you. [applause] >> another hand for mary mary. [applause] it's like being in church even it passed today, right?

-- even though we're not there. right?a p [asass today, yes, we do. to continue our celebration of the dream, we turn to reflections of those who marched with and were inspired by dr. king. it is my distinct pleasure to welcome former cbs news anchor dan rather who covered the civil rights movement and those who walked beside dr. king and have lived his legacy in the years since, the rev. jesse jackson, congressman john lewis, ambassador andrew young, and our elder statesman, reverend joseph lowery who turned 90 years old, 90 years young just last week. welcome. [applause] dan -- >> thank you very much. i'm humbled to be here. heroes are honored in their time.

legends live through the ages. while considering dr. king's legacy, an obscure poem called "lifters and leaners" comes to mind. dr. king was a world class lifter. others leaned on him, i never saw his shoulders give way or his backbend. -- his back bend. he was as great a man as i have -- brave a man as i have ever seen. the historical weight of this long overdue monument reminds us that we must be lifters' now. today,1960's as divisiveness was based on fear and prejudice and misinformation.

now with the cost and 24 hour news cycle, the power of misinformation has increased. we must remind ourselves that intelligence drums in ignorance every time -- trumps ignorance every time. when given the facts, people make good decisions. that leads to a problem dr. king faced 50 years ago, one that is worse today and that is the court for visitation, the -- atization, the politicization and the trivialization of the news. dr. king once spoke candidly with me about the news coverage of the civil rights movement. nationwide especially in cities like jackson. atlanta. there was a little news coverage -- so little news co verage at all anywhere. he was also concerned that southern affiliate's stations would persuade the networks to tone down if not eliminate coverage that went out to the rest of the country. at the time, frankly, i did not feel his concerns were warranted.

the than owners of my network in my bosses in new york work rock -ribbed when it came to reporting the news. and yet, in retrospect, i can't ignore that the cbs affiliate at that time in atlanta, dr. king's home town, refused to carry some cbs news reports about the movement in 1962. they censored them. today, different owners and many big money special interests are more closely intertwined with more colluding with big political special interests than ever for their own, not the people's purposes. [applause] in dr. king's time, his main

battle was against racial injustice, a battle for frfar fm over. now added to that is the fight against agreed and for economic -- greed and for economic justice. this time we judge people not on the content of their character but on the color of their money. once again, once again we have americans outside looking in. this time, many people of all races and creeds feel stuck in a rickety, rudderless boat of economic injustice and are struggling to make their voices heard. many in white america supported desegregation but did not support the demonstrations and passive resistance that dr. king had learned from perrault and gandhi. --thoreau -- thoreau and gandhi. this creates ambivalence on the part of white americans. it gave local government the opportunity to skew the news and crushed coverage their way. -- and press coverage their way.

does this not sound familiar? the lifters such as dr. king must have felt the weight of a hewnon in justices but heinjust like this -- like this strong -- storm like this, he was able to carry the weight. for every lifter there are hundreds of leaners but on this day standing in front of the statue of american hero,icon, and legend, we are reminded that we must all be lifter's now. we cannot wait for others to carry our message is and lift -- messages and lift our share of the load. although dr. king's legacy can never be summed up in a few minutes, let me leave you with this -- there is heavy lifting to be done again and in the spirit of dr. king's lasting legacy, we need to start now. thank you very much. [applause]

[applause] >> i pause to honor the living monument of martin luther king, jr.. i want to be a part of this ceremony as we edge in stone the -- etch in stone the memories of dr. king. want to thank congressman john conyers who three days after the assassination put forth to bill and it was popularized in song, ronald reagan signed the bill to help erect a monument. to all of them, we owe a very special round of applause. put your hands together, will you? [applause]

i was glad to be a part of his core of disciples to work, -- who worked, organized a march and paradprayed with him. here are today, one of the132 mm jamestown where the slave ships landed. a 400-year journey from 132 miles. i remembered my last birthday with dr. king, january 15, 1968. he was planning a march on washington. it was a poor people's campaign to occupy the mall. we were willing to engage in civil disobedience to do whatever was necessary in the nation's capital to get the attention of the government to shift the war in vietnam to a war on poverty at home. healing and being healed -- healed. in his last sunday morning sermon delivered at the

washington national cathedral, four days before his assassination, dr. king said we're coming to washington to demand that the government addressed itself on the problem of poverty entering the -- answering the rhetorical question of what wawhy it was ny -- dr. king declared is our experience that the nation does not move around questions or genuine equality for the poor and black people but for the confrontation massively in terms of direct action. the image of confrontational king may not be pleasing to those who want to wash the blood stains from history but is useful to those who value the truth of kings' lead more than the myth of the man. dr. king argued that racial injustice is not enough of a burning house when you're living with recycled poverty and paid. -- and pain. we should be appreciative of this monument but said, saisad. sad because congress is in

rebellion and citizens are facing intense pain. maybe the 14th amendment ancan bail us out, but congress will not. -- we're sad because of too much concentrated wealth, subsidized and born of government protection, too much poverty borne of government neglect, too many of wars, to my children -- too many children killing children, too many jobs leaving and too much drugs coming. we can and malnutrition now. -- can end malnutrition now. we can relieve student loan debt now. dr. king would be said that america had a moment and history of historic proportions in 2008 but they elected barack obama. yet that reduction has been met with unrelenting retribution, retaliation, then on and on printed -- unprecedented opposition. people seem to be willing to sink the ship just to destroy the captain. we have to be better than that. [applause]

like lyndon baines johnson, poverty was restored in the great society. dr. king would not settle for shifting the chairs on the deck of the titanic. he would want to deal with those in the hull of the ship. he wanted to plug the holes to stop the water from coming in. 43 years after dr. king's plan and occupation on this same spot, he would say to the occupiers on wall street, the movement has gone global and you are the offspring of dr. king. poor peoples campaign and resurrection city. in that legacy, keep protesting. remain nonviolent. stay disciplined, stay focused. don't just before fios system, -- just fortify the system, restructure it, march 4 and even -- march forward on an

even playing field, public rules, clear goals, transparency and march on to fight racial injustice and economic inequality and fight the economic and racial injustice. we are all god's children with or royal bloodlines. royal bloodline. dr. king would say you must use the right to earn for the sacrifice and blood of the martyrs bridge you must use your minds and bodies as living sacrifices. you must use your vote, are vulnerable. use your love building being the road of hope for those in the hall of the ship, the 99%. dr. king argued that leadership at its best was not meant toit was meant to mold public opinion. to not do what is convenient aror popular, do what is right . don't be compromised to your vision. we fall down sometimes but we get up again and again because

the ground is no place for a champion. job says though you slay me, my wouldfear is that i've not get up again because i trust in god and i know my redeemer lives. victory is certain, keep hope alive. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome representative john lewis. [applause] >> good morning. it is good to see everybody here on this beautiful, beautiful day. first, i want to thank harry johnson sr., president and ceo of the washington d, d.c.,

martin luther king jr. national memorial project foundation. his board of directors, dana kurtz and his entire staff. of alpha thank the man fromen phi alpha analpha, corporate donors and average citizens who made this dream come true. thank you for building a monument, a monument to peace, to love, and nonviolent resistance on the front yard of america to symbolize the cornerstone of our true democracy. it was 48 long years ago when thousands of us long for freedom. ance froma short distnace fro here in the shadow of the

lincoln memorial. jails of the hard south where the front lines of the struggle for human dignity and america was. together there in peace with their hearts in our hands, hoping to see some sign that our cries marble walls of this distant capital. martin luther king jr., this man, this brother, this citizen of america, this citizen of the world, was never in the program -- was number 10 in the program lineup. i was number 6. for those who spoke that day, i am the only ones still around. -- one still around. dr. king was our leader. he never, ever asked us to do anything that he would not do. he was arrested, jailed, beaten, and constantly harassed.

his home was bombed. he was stabbed. he suffered the slings and arrows of hate in a grassroots struggle to prove that love had eternal power to overcome the limitation of hate. had it not been for the philosophy of peace, the philosophy of nonviolence that he preached, and his insistence on the nonviolent resistance based on brotherly love, this would be a different nation. we would be living in a different place today. but martin luther king jr. must be looked upon as one of the founding fathers of the new america. this man is one man. he not only for a people but he -- he not only freed a people, but he liberated a nation.

we are here, all of us, black and white, latino, asian american, and native american -- we are here because this one man did what president have unable to do. warnded with the civilwhat thel could not finish. he challenged the most powerful nation on earth to meet its moral obligation to look out for its people and look out for those who had been left out and left behind. this doctor, this creature, this -- preacher, this man man from atlanta, ga., taught us how to love. he taught us to lay down the burden of hate when he was-- hate was too heavy a burden to bear. martin luther king jr., a think a few short years ago when he came to washington 48 years ago. hotwe had signs that said "white man, a colored man,

white women,"colored, those signs are gone and will not return. [applause] the only place where children will see those signs will be in a book, in a museum, on a video. museum or on a video. i hear too many people saying 48 years later that nothing has changed. come and walk in my shoes. dr. king is telling you that we have changed. we are better people. we're a better nation. just think a few short years ago when dr. king stood on the steps of the lincoln memorial, we could not register to vote in many parts of the deep south. we had to pass a so-called literacy test to count the

number of jellybeans and a jar. -- in a jar. because of the work of martin luther king jr., and the work of millions of people, because of the leadership of president kennedy and president lyndon johnson, we live in a different place. people ask me over and over again, was the election of barack obama fulfillment of dr. de -- dr. king's dream? we are not there yet. we are not there yet. [applause] too many people have been left out and left behind. go's use this occasion to out and finish the task, do what we must do to create a better world, to create a more perfect union. hang in there, don't give up, don't give in, don't give out, keep your faith, keep your eyes on the prize and a walk in the spirit of martin luther king jr.. thank you very much.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome ambassador andrew young. [applause] >> brothers and sisters, forgive me for starting out with a triviality. you think of martin luther king as a giant of a man but the one complex he had was a complex about his height. he was really just 5 feet 7 and was always getting upset with tall people who looked down on him. now he is 30 feet tall and looking down on everybody. [applause]

he would be the first to tell you that he did i get his life -- he did not give his life for a statute. -- statue. he gave his life for the least of god's children buried i-- god's children. when in the middle of the struggle when we began to work out the problems of militarism and the problems of politics and the dynamics of getting people elected, they changed the rules on him. they changed the rules and the game is no longer just political. in fact, it is the economics that controlled the politics. people of atlanta sent me to congress and i was there at the scene of the crime when they began to break up and economic -- an economic order that had been started by franklin roosevelt in 1944. at the end of 73 they changed it. a little later on, they changed aho something called regulation q. listen to this now. this is what put you out of

your house and why your mortgage is not worth what to pay for it. -- you paid for it. they changed the rules in the congress. and then the savings and loans went out of business because they left housing and started building casinos and resorts and everything else. when they went out of business, the commercial banks get into housing. they did not know anything about housing. they started packaging mortgages in something called derivatives and they sold them all around the world and they were not worth a damn. then when they went out of business, they call for the government to bail them out. and that was not good enough but there was a regulation call ed glass-steagal. -- glass-stegall. it kept while investment banks -- it kept investment banks from

messing with investment banks. republicans change that. -- changed that. now the thing is all messed up. the problem in banking and finance is we have too much integration. [laughter] nobody really knows what they are doing and they are doing it their minds. they are using their greedy behinds. [applause] in atlanta, we tried to straighten that out a little bit. i'm not against wall street. i am just saying that we have to learn the rules and use it to our advantage. maynard jackson said atset up an airport. it cost us about $10 million. we have had black mayors in atlanta ever 44 years. we have tried to do things within the economy and we have been able to generate jobs. the airport cost $10 billion but it generates $30 billion every year and creates about 60,000 jobs. kasim reed is adding an

international terminal that will probably add another 5000 jobs. the system works if you know how to work it. martin luther king gave his life to end poverty. you will not end poverty by preaching. you and property by learning -- end poverty by learning some economics and sending your children to school, by saving your money, by getting financially literate and just like we won the battle of voting rights, we can win the battle of economic rights. that is what martin luther king would have you do now and a first step to that is to keep a president in office that basically has your interest at heart. [applause] if we don't do that, this year, god help us. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome rev. joseph lowery.

[applause] [applause] >> thank you. we have not got all day. [laughter] of the to go hear a fellow speak -- i got to go hear a fellow speak named barack obama. [applause] i came today to do in the spirit of this structure that we are dedicating.

to quote martin luther king jr. in his speech at oslo when they gave him the nobel peace prize -- one of the things he made clear was that while we have come a long way we still have a long, long way to go. while the presence of this imposing structure forever reminds us of a long and perilous journey that the struggle has brought us through, it also points toward the future. in the words -- through many -- in the words of that familiar hymn, through many dangers, toils, and snares we have already come, twas grace that

brought us safe this far, and grace will lead us home. we recognize here that in the midst of the amazing truth that an african-american preacher who never held public political office is recognized here among the fathers of the country. indeed, he has become a father of the country. [applause] for his leadership gave birth to a new america. this marvelous president is in peril by forces that come today to turn back the clock. there are forces in this country that wants to turn back the clock but we want to make sure they understand we have marched too far, prayed too hard, wept too bitterly, bled too profusely, and died too young to let anybody turn back the clock on our journey home. [applause]

let me make sure that i make clear that we are looking for something that i want to read you what martin said when they gave him the nobel peace prize -- we can spread the word across the whispering grass and tell the trees and the trees will tell the babbling brook and then everyone will know because they told the babbling brook. well, let me say here this is "it martin said -- said, accept this award today with an abiding faith in america and an audacious faith in the future of humankind. i refuse to accept that man's presence makes it morally incapable reaching up for the eternal oughtness that forever

confronts them. -- him. i refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsam and jetsam in life that surrounds everhim. i refuse to accept the view that man is so tragically bound to the life that surrounds him. i refuse the view that daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. wi have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have meals for their bodies, education for their minds, and dignity, and equality, and

freedom for their spirits. i believe what the selfish men have torn down, god-fearing men can build up. i believe that one day mankind will about before the altars of -- bow before the altars of god and the crown is triumphant over war and bloodshed and non- violent redemptive goodwill will proclaimed the land. we will give our tired feet new strength as we continue to stride toward the city of freedom." this is martins looked toward the future as he received the nobel peace prize. as we gather here in this small, -- this mall, which corporate america has contributed to the well-being. we thank god for the past and

we thank god for the present but we look forward to that. -- to the future. we look forward to that day when justice will roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream will pour down. we look forward to that day when all god's children can rise, shine, and give god the glory. we look forward to that day when blacks will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get a head man, when whites will be -- can get ahead, man, and when whites will be all right. [laughter] [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, award winning american poet, writer, commentator, a civil-rights activist, and educators ,nicky giovanni. [cheers] the university distinguished professor at virginia tech and one of our nation's most widely read poets. [applause] >> in the spirit of martin, this is a sacred poem blood has been spilled to sacramento it. -- shed to consecrate it. that was a magical time. height of "silver away.

-- heigh-ho silver, away. here i come to save the day. i want the world to see what they did to my. no, no, no, i am not going to move. if we are wrong, than the constitution of the united states is wrong. montgomery, birmingham, selma, four little girls, constant threats, constant harassment, fathert fear f,clc, fathe, knows best, leave it to be there, ed sullivan, how long? not long. th mr.oreau said to mr. emerson, are you going out to? this is a letter. this is a eulogy. this is a water. pos -- water hose. this is a thank-you to die and nash.

this is a flag for james farmer. this is a doubt that i make it without you to elevator. -- emma baker. this is for the red clay of georgia that yielded black and occurs, black men of vision, black men of hope bent over cotton and sweet potatoes or pool tables and baseball diamonds playing for a chance to live free and breezy and have -- breathe easy, enough money to take care of the folks below. this is why we can't wait. bett swirling mississippi when, -- that swirling mississippi wind, the alabama time, the tennessee dust, the filing the clothes that women wash. we let the women know that we too must. overcome -- we too must overcome. this is for fannie lou hamer, jo ann robinson, set to mcclure, daisy bates, all the women ba saidby, baby, baby i know you did not mean to lose your job i know you did not mean to lose the rent money, i know you did not me to hit me. -- man to hit me.

i know the lord will make a way and i am leaning on the everlasting arms. how much pressure does the earth and exert on carbon to make a diamond to? ? how long does the soil push against the flesh, molding, molding, molding the mons that -- the moan that become a cry. it is unbreakable, priceless, incomparable. i made my about to the lord that -- i made my vow -- i never would turn back. how much pressure does it send to the world to press against a part of a man who becomes the voice of his people? he should have had a tattoo freedom now or something like that. he said a braided his hair or -- he should have braided his hair, carried a pool cue in a mahogany case and have that mechanism to laugh over skillet best fried chicken. this is a p sacred tooem. -- sacred poem. open your arms, turn up your

arms up, feel the spirit of greatness and be redeemed. [applause] >> nikki giovanni, you should see what is happening backstage. it is so fun. our memorials are a combination of public and private resources. we hear from individuals who brought leadership to the mission. the chairman of the dedication and chief executive officer will be followed by tommy hilfiger, dedication co founder designerr,od guillam, and

chairman of the king memorial foundation. welcome and thank you. first to mr. atkinson. [applause] >> thank you, gwen. i am honored and humbled to be here today at this truly momentous and historic event in front of the king family and such important guests including my granddaughter emma. it is both a personal and professional honor for me to be here. as i look back on line life, two -- on my life, two moments that i really remember it resonates with me -- the first is the john f. kennedy inauguration went to the embassy -- when he said, said ask not what your country

can do for you but rather what your -- what you can do for your country. the mlk freedom march -- i have a dream that my four little children when they will live in -- one day will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of skin but rather by the content of their character. and these two speeches at a profound effect on me and my life. -- had a profound affect. is also a great honor for me to represent the general motors co. and a family of general motors. i am very proud that gm had a long and has a long, strong relationship that supports this item of as a memorial. -- this magnificent memorial. it has been two decades in the making but today, dr. king takes his place in the pantheon of american heroes. it is a monument to one man's dream.

it is a memorial to the people who sacrificed and risked everything up to and including their own lives so that generations to come with live together as equals. it does not mark an end. our historical ambition of creating a more perfect union can, by definition, never end. as dr. king showed us, the power to create a more perfect union lies in each of us. -- you we can correct and i, we can correct injustice. we can work for equality and we can work to improve and eliminate poverty in our country. we can do so with and all law and through the institutions

that defined as a great. nation nation. this tomorrow reminds us that not only can we make america better, it is our responsibility to make a better. -- this memorial reminds us. on behalf of chevrolet and gmc and foundation and everyone at gm, i congratulate and salute the king family and the mlk memorial foundation and all of america for ensuring the everlasting legacy of this trip. -- of this truly great man. chairman and president designer and co-founder of the tommy hilfiger corporate foundation, tommy hilfiger. >> thank you very much. [applause] it is a special honor to join the king family, the martin luther king jr. foundation, and the many dignitaries as well as

my fellow americans in celebrating the legacy of dr. king's. . as i stand here today, i am reminded of what my father told me as a child, that there are two great men in this world -- mlk and jfk. at the time i understood this statement was significant but did not understood. and why. why as a grown man, a father, and a husband, i appreciate why and i appreciate the fact that these men were heroes because they held fast to their convictions. untraveled the path cann travel because they had a vision of a greater good. dr. king's message of equality inspired the mission for our corporate foundation when we started it over 50 years. ago ago. little did we know that soon thereafter, we would have the opportunity to contribute to

something as powerful as this memorial. for many of us as a company working on this project for over 10 years has had a profound impact. it has been a great honor and a great privilege and a responsibility as well to be committed and to be in it wholeheartedly. it has united us in ways that we never expectant. -- expected. what many of us find most inspiring is that this memorial will serve as a beautiful reminder for generations to come of dr. king's heroism. it is a lasting tribute to a man whose message must live on. on behalf of the corporate foundation and tommy hilfiger company, thank you for the opportunity and i thank the company. thank you very much. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the chairman of the memorial foundation, a board of directors rod gillam. [applause] >> good morning. this is truly a day that the lord has made. this is a day that we honor a man who dared to stretch our imagination. he showed us that we could do more, that we could become more, and that we are indeed more. he lifted up a race of people and reminded us each day that the future is ours to design, what we stand for, what we value. dr. king not only give us a vision but also showed us the way. -- gave us a vision. a man, the movement, as to this nation to embrace the message of common sense embodied in three questions -- what color is character?

what race is achievement? what nationality is talent? and we needed for get a very important fourth question -- what price is neglect? he asked us to replace a climate of hate with love, justice, and peace, an elusive peace. the stars agenda as words of his assassination shook the nation. -- the stars dimmed. today, he watches from a very distinguished chair. honor though there are certainly dark days that must cause a regular rhythms and a part of this drum major of change, there are also bright days of joy -- irregular rhythms, and hope that sends the message that his work on this earth was hurt, was appreciated, and continues to live in the hearts and deeds of millions and millions.

on this momentous occasion, my friends, as we pay tribute to our beloved dr. king, on behalf of the board of directors who brought their passion, hearts and souls to ensure the establishment of this memorial in his honor, we thank you for your support in your communities, in your synagogues, in your church is , ming youes temples, and always of schools to the great halls of congress from contributions of 05 cents to 5 million. these thoughts and prayers, we will thank-you. without you and what we have collectively done together, we would not be able to participate in this truly one of the greatest moments in our. history god bless you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please look and the chairman of the martin luther king jr. memorial

foundation, gary calger. [applause] >> good morning. dan akerson, tommy hilfiger, and dan gillam revealed something -- rod gillam -- very telling about the moral and that is that everyone involved in this project had their own story to tell as they looked back at the construction of this tribute to dr. king's legacy. fraternity brothers, our sons, -- artisans, construction worker, corporations, government officials, and everyday people played to their strengths and contributed what they could. so today we celebrate how these many came together as one to see a dream fulfilled. as co-chair of the foundation's executive leadership council, i had the distinct honor to work side-by-side with incredible men and women dedicated to

building an alliance of leaders, and philanthropists who drove a national campaign to construct this all inspiring memorial that will forever grace our national mall. the road we traveled while amassing this support was not always easy. for the core of our executive leadership council, it was a road we traveled for 10 years. this dedicated team made countless phone calls, arranged hundreds of meetings, hosted events, and green banners -- dinners -- throughout our nation all to remind our nation about the legacy we honor today. it was a decorative tiles to bid that required each of us to draw on what inspired us. -- it was a decade. i can say for me that inspiration came from my years as a teenager when i witnessed

dr. king courageously lead our world and our country to a much needed change. i would like to also take this opportunity to specifically thank ambassador andrew young for his extraordinary work on the council which made today, in part, possible. [applause] thank you. i would also like to thank general motors and tommy hilfiger for serving as tremendous early examples of corporate and personal support for this noble cause. thank you all very much. [applause] >> the 1955 montgomery bus boycott was a seminal moment in the civil rights movement. here to pay tribute to that historic event with an original composition entitled "bus pass t"

" are grammy award winning the violinist. [applause] ♪

[applause] ♪ ♪ in all took the bus -- we all took the bus even if you, drove, or walked to the celebration got here by a bus. your gps may have guided do and your hair was condition but you still got here by bus. 55 years after the boycott, our feet are solved, perhaps -- soft -- manicured, definitely soil. >> we talk about the hardships now for it was a mutter of the -- muddier -- king dedication or

colder at barack's inauguration? >> we may have passed seven -- packed seven years of shoes this one weekend. ♪ to some of us a bus is lower than a subway. the subway is underground in 1955, that was our daily commute. the sister rosa did not have an ipod to block out the noise. no messages asking for bail money. >> reverend king did not tweet about monday's boycott plans. there was no telecommuting. >> these crowds got there without the aid of a smart fun and there was more than an impromptu/mob trying to stop them. >> put that in your status update. >> our feet are soft.

>> they will be tougher by the time we finish marching today. >> you go home and tells the legend of today, tell your friends and family how you what -- walk a country mile and stood in line and did it with style because it was your duty to be here. this one day ♪ that remind them the montgomery bus boycott lasted 381 such days. ♪ >> while you're here, just for kicks, ride a bus. >> go ahead. sit anywhere you please. relax those feet. you know why? because you can. ♪ mari ♪

miri.e ono, [applause] >> thank you, thank you. and now it is my great distinct pleasure to introduce to you two special and amazing women. screen and stage star legend

cicely tyson and a rising young star, at the dawn of her career, amandela denberg, welcome. [applause] [cheers] >> this is the day that the lord has made in all are rejoicing and glad in it. [applause] every great dream begins with a dreamer. always remember you have within you strength, the patients, and -- the passion to reach for the stars in order to change this world. that quoote is from harriet --

-- tubman, a woman who really was the early champion of civil rights. the story of civil rights movement is the story of the women who at times discreetly always dedicated, and too often with little recognition, stood up to tear down the barriers between fulfilling a dream and deferring it. this story of the women of the civil rights movement is a story of our mothers, our grandmothers, our widows and wives, our sisters and daughters who were powerful rattlers down dark lonely roads on the journey toward freedom and progress. they were pioneers. they were made, mothers, at --

maids, least, at the present -- athletes, volunteers, and entertainers. they were incredible women such as harriet tubman and soujourner truth. they work to make sure that all could pursue their dreams. women can and all colors, from all walks of life, to stand with dr. king and other man of the civil rights movement to map out strategies of change. ahere were dorothy height, ros parks, of parks, betty shabazz, caress scott king, and the countless unknown women who helped make all our lives more just and more equal. as we celebrate the dream and dedicate the memorial, let us remember a long line of phenomenal women who shaped the

civil rights movement from this country's early days three today. -- through today. let us remember to honor the women who came before us as well as so many, thank god, that are still here with us. they were powerful women, a powerful role models for myself as well as for the next generation of not only women but you men, too. i have standing with me a young 12-year-old member of the next generation. [applause] her name is amandela which in zulu mains power. yes, indeed.

so, i just have a word or two to say to amandela, that we are passing on to you the torch. you will be the next generation to pick up and carry on where i and the rest of my generation leave off. god bless you and good luck to you. thank you. [applause] >> my knowledge of the civil rights movement is from what i have learned in school at what my parents have taught me. today, i want to honor four little girls of the civil rights movement. 11-year-old denise mcnair, 14-

year-old addie mae colluins, carole robinson, 14, and cynthia -- carol robertson -- wesley, 14. in 1963, there were killed at 16th street baptist church in birmingham, alabama when a bomb exploded while they were in sunday school. i am 12 years old. those four little girls were my age. although they did not live long enough to be recognized as women of the civil rights movement, they should be part of that wonderful legacy because, as dr. king said at their funeral, they did not live long lives but they live a meaningful lives. i plan to live a meaningful life, too. [applause] thank you.

>> it is now my pleasure to introduce a group both women and men who, through their beliefs, have each brought change to the world -- sharing their thoughts on hope, democracy, justice, and love -- please welcome through blazing actress and singer diane carol, lee sonders, the reverend al sharpton, and children's defense fund founder marian wright edelman. [applause] first i bring to you diane

carol. [applause] [cheers] >> good afternoon. i cannot tell you how honored i am to have been asked to be with you today, celebrating in honor of dr. martin luther king. i am older than you think i am. [laughter] bless your heart. [laughter] we try. we try.