What is Dr. King's legacy for the Obama administration?

When Barack Obama was elected as our country’s first African-American president in November, many peace activists raised our voices in celebration. On the FORpeace blog, we discussed our reactions - a lot of joy mixed with some skepticism - about what changes this might bring to Washington, D.C. and to the nation. Today we observe Martin Luther King Day on the cusp of Obama’s inauguration, and the juxtaposition of these two events couldn’t be more powerful.

To honor this civil rights milestone, FOR has been working for several months with a broad coalition called the Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership to organize a celebratory service in our nation’s capital that emphasizes Dr. King’s teachings on the "three evils" of Racism, Militarism and Materialism. Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America will be held at 5 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C.  If you are planning to attend the inauguration tomorrow, we hope you will also join us in Washington tonight.

People across the U.S. will be celebrating this milestone in their own ways, and reflecting on the broad implications for civil rights and social justice both at home and abroad. Wherever you are, will you join us in sharing your own thoughts about the Obama inauguration and what would have been Dr. King’s 80th birthday?  Please visit the Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership blog and help start a conversation about peace in the next Presidential administration.

Thank you for helping FOR keep the dream of the Beloved Community alive. Your support is what makes this work possible.