Page 12, Portland Observer, January 14, 1987
I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere
can have three meals a day fo r their bodies, education
and culture fo r their minds, and dignity, equality and
freedom fo r their spirits. I believe that what self-
centered men have torn down, other-centered men can
build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow
before the altars o f G o d and be crowned triumphant
over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive
goodwill will proclaim the rule o f the land. “ A n d the
lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every
man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none
shall be ctfraid. “ I still believe that we shall overcome.
—Martin Luther King, Jr., Oslo, 1964
Portland Branch N A A C P . held m em orial m arch to V ancouver A venue First Baptist
Church, w h ere ecum enical service w as held.
4
"We will suffer and die if we have to”
. . . I don’t know what will happen now. We have got difficult
days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me because I’ve been to
the mountain top. Like anyone else, I would like to live a long
life. But I’m not concerned with that. I just want to do God’s will
and He hits allowed me to go up the mountain. I see the promised
land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know
tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. I am
happy tonight that I am not worried about anything. I’m not
fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming
of the Lord.
You all know the story of Kip Van Winkle. . . .
Everyone remembers that Winkle slept for twenty years.
But what is important is that when he went up on that moun­
tain to sleep there was a picture of King George hanging in the
town.
\\ hen he came down, there was a picture of George Washing­
ton in its place.
Kip Van Winkle slept through a revolution, but we cannot
afford to remain asleep. . . .
Our world is as a neighborhood.
“We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all
perish as fools. . . . ”
There are two challenges to America.
The challenges are racism and poverty.
In a few weeks a few of us are coming to Washington to see
if the will to meet those challenges still lives among us.
We’re not coming to engage in any histrionic action.
We are not coming to tear up Washington.
We are coming to engage in dramatic, nonviolent action.
We are coming, and we will stay as long as we have to. . . .
We will suffer and die if we have to. For I submit, nothing
will be done until people put their bodies and soul into this.
A pril .7, 1968
Memphis, Tennessee
M ARTI N
LUTHER
KING JR.
1929 1968
Dedication
Martin Luther King, Jr., dedicated his life to the crusade for
racial equality. To millions of black Americans, he was the coun­
try’s foremost civil rights leader. He urged his people to be proud
of their race. He asked them to stand up for their rights. He led
them in nonviolent demonstrations against the evils of hatred
and segregation. He was a prophet of peace. Dr. King believed
in the basic goodness of man and in the philosophy of nonvio­
lence. It was his hope and dream that nonviolent protest action
would create an America where all men might truly be equal.
His efforts brought him worldwide fame, and death at an early
age.
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First Interstate Bank
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