This Monday the birth of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929, is celebrated throughout the United States.
Dr. King is recognized for his multiple peaceful protests advocating for the civil rights of African-Americans and minorities in general, as well as his powerful speeches that made anyone think and vibrate about equality, segregation and against war.
However, it is important to mention that Dr. King was also an avid critic of economic justice, politics, and global issues.
Among his most important speeches are “I have a Dream” (I have a dream), where he dreamed that one day his children would live in a country where they were not judged for the color of their skin, and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail). from a Birmingham jail), where he shares one of the most powerful messages of justice, while incarcerated.
His work has not gone unnoticed among Latinos. On this 94th anniversary of the birth of Dr. King, Latino activists say that his leadership has been a point of reference to advocate for their communities in different aspects.
Erika Schwerdt, an environmental activist from the Antelope Valley, has spent years advocating for clean rural communities. Together with a non-profit organization, she is dedicated to raising awareness and doing community cleanups mainly in recreational areas to provide a cleaner future for children.
Schwerdt assured that Dr. King’s message resonates a lot in her line of work since she and those who work in her organization do their jobs for the love of work and not for the desire to be seen on social networks.
“Anyone can upload photos on social networks, but change does not come if the example is not followed when the cameras are not present,” said the activist.
She added that activists like her day by day seek ways to create better opportunities, not only in the environment but also in housing, access to vote, being counted in the population census, to give some examples.
“All these things that I do with the community are out of love to help and not because I need recognition,” Schwerdt said.
A fight for economic and political justice
South Los Angeles community activist Ron Gochez said one of Dr. King’s favorite role models is organizing to the end.
Góchez indicated that despite the fact that the most famous phrases come from the “I have a Dream” speech, there are many other topics that are not touched on much, but it is very important to mention them.
Dr. King was very critical of the system, right in the middle of the Vietnam War.
“He criticized capitalism because it caused a big difference between the rich and the poor, and the truth is that now we are much worse off,” Góchez said.
“At that time there was no crisis of the homeless like now, at that time inequality was not as great as it is today. Before there was no Bill Gates, no Jeff Bezos. Now the poor are poorer and the rich richer”.
Armando Carmona, a Jurupa Valley city councilman in Riverside County, began his work in his community as an activist. He said his focus has always been to fight for the community and all of its most needy residents.
She is pleased to know that Dr. King was not only an activist for civil rights but also for economic and political justice.
“He was talking about a fair economy that works for everyone, not just the rich. He talked about how we create a more equitable country, not only because of race but also because of social and economic situations, so I think he is an example to follow,” said Carmona.
He assured that this shows that all social, racial, civil and economic issues are related.
“That is why we cannot back down when we talk about economic justice, about public investments in all our communities; to fix problems like infrastructure, fix our streets and protect our culture,” said the councilor.
He added that on international issues, Dr. King did not hesitate to speak out against the Vietnam War, a war he considered unjust.
That compares it to current issues where people have a responsibility to speak consciously about what is happening, such as migration.
“We have to say and expose the injustices that are happening at the border, how our immigrant family members have been mistreated and we have to fight for a better system that treats us with dignity,” he stressed.
Dr. King said in his letter from Birmingham in 1963, “we can never again afford to live with the narrow, parochial idea of the ‘external agitator.’ Anyone who lives within the United States can never be considered a stranger anywhere in this country.”
Although Dr. King did not get to see the changes that have been generated in many industries thanks to his work, his legacy continues with the younger generations, who are dedicated to creating the day of community work on each anniversary of his birth. .