Anniversary of King's death a time to reflect

Editorial Board Staff Column

This past Friday marked the 40th anniversary of the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and it's important to note the progress we've made as a state in the civil rights movement. But we're far from finished.

The ideals King stood for are timeless - equality, respect, freedom and love for our fellow man. Unfortunately, for King and for all of us, our state's commitment to these ideals has been less than timely.

Progress has been made: gone are the water fountains labeled "coloreds only," and black University students can - to the best of our knowledge - sit wherever they like on our inefficient campus buses.

The trappings of overt racism have been largely eliminated from mainstream civil company, but there is still progress to be made - in our state, our city and here at our University.

In recent years, University students have protested the purple-and-gold Confederate flag. The flag, which for some symbolizes a history of oppression, racism and slavery, still flies on game days among tailgaters.

Although we at The Daily Reveille unconditionally support free speech and recognize the right of these people to wave their flag, we also believe there is something to be said for respecting the pain this speech brings to many in our University community.

Just because something can be said does not mean it should be said, and just because tailgaters have the right to wave the flag does not mean the flag should be flown.

But the University community is not alone in its need to stand up for equality.

The Baton Rouge city council voted against One Baton Rouge's motion to include in city literature that Baton Rouge is tolerant of all people, regardless of sexual orientation.

By voting down this motion, our city council has essentially stood up - not for equality or tolerance, but for division and perpetual segregation, regardless of the target subject.

The legacy of Rev. King's dream will not soon be forgotten. Each year to commemorate his birthday, we will relive his epic speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, his freedom walks in Selma, Ala., and his continuous stride for peace throughout the world.

But simply reliving his famous clips is not enough. As he eloquently put it, "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

Now is the time to demand equality for all.


Originally published in The Daily Reveille...