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Dear Dr. King

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By Ralph R. Walker

I just had to sit down and correspond with you on your 87th birthday.

I know that you are aware of the turbulent times that we still live in, despite some major accomplishments, the re-election of President Barack Obama and the removal of the Confederate flag (to name a few), but our cities (New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and Ferguson) are still plagued with alleged police brutality and misconduct, and the criminal justice system is crying out for reform.

We as a country are still engaged in so many wars abroad, that the military-industrial complex (a union of defense contractors and the armed forces), as warned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address on Jan. 17, 1961, have created a defense budget that leaves very little room for social improvement in our communities.

The United States prison system has the largest prison population in the world, simply “Orange Is the New Black.”

Affordable housing is just a wishful dream; voting laws have been eviscerated.

Racism has found new life in the current presidential election as candidates seeking office have a flashback to the fiery rhetoric of former Alabama Governor George Wallace when Donald Trump unleashes racial insults as he forges towards the Republican nomination.

Dr. King your message of non-violence is still used as a force to engage in the battle against the injustices of the world today.

Young people are united in their efforts to change “the system” with no fear in their hearts, from college campuses to local communities.

Your various speeches still serve as a beacon of light as we fight our way out of darkness and violence. The speech given in June 1965 at Temple Israel of Hollywood, talked of the different mountains, “We’ve been in the mountain of war. We’ve been in the mountain of violence. We’ve been in the mountain of hatred long enough. It is necessary to move on, but only by moving out of this mountain can we move to the promised land of justice and brotherhood and the kingdom of God. It all boils down to the fact that we must never allow ourselves to become satisfied with unattained goals. We must always maintain a kind of divine discontent.”

Can we join forces to move out of the various mountains, or will we perish?

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