40 years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and this nation lost one of the greatest leaders for peace and justice that we have ever known. Read his words. Listen to his speech in the video below. He could easily be speaking to the American people today regarding our “new war”… it is eerie.

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“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”

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“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

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“The time is always right to do what is right.”

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Here’s a clip from one of Dr. King’s most powerful speeches:

P.S. If you had trouble clicking on the video above, try this link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=b80Bsw0UG-U

Brought to us by our friends at http://pol.moveon.org/ – Aisling, Adam G, Adam R, Anna, Carrie, Daniel, Eli, Ilyse, Joan, Justin, Karin, Laura, Lenore, Marika, Matt, Nita, Noah, Patrick, Peter, Stephanie, Tanya, and Wes
MoveOn.org Political Action
Friday, April 4th, 2008

Dear Friend of United for Peace and Justice,

Last night the announcement came: The 4,000th U.S. serviceperson has died in Iraq.Last week, in more than 700 activities in all 50 states, we marked the 5th anniversary of the war that never should have happened. Now, United for Peace and Justice and many of our member groups urge you to once again make a public statement against the war and occupation in Iraq.

Check the American Friends Service Committee calendar, or the UFPJ calendar, to find a vigil or other protest near you.

If you don’t see anything listed, we urge you to take the time to plan something. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs to be visible:

• Hold a candlelight vigil tomorrow evening, Tuesday, March 25. Do this in a busy part of your city or town.
• During rush hour, hang a banner from an overpass of a busy highway.
• Make some signs and stand on the corners of the busiest intersection during the busiest time of the day.
• Hold a vigil or a picket line in front of the district office of your member of Congress and call on them to use their power to bring all the troops home.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to:

• Send an email notice to everyone you know.
• Call any groups you think might be interested and urge them to help get the word out.
• Let your local media outlets know what you are doing, and why.
• Post your plans on our website so other people can find out what’s happening and join you.

As we mourn the 4,000 U.S. servicepeople and the more than one million Iraqis who have already died, let us renew our determination to end this criminal war and occupation. Now is the time to bring all of the troops home!Yours, for peace and justice,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ