01/19/2026
MLK Day: The dignity of a human person.
Each year on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, communities across the nation pause to reflect on Dr. King’s life and legacy. His words continue to guide us, especially in difficult times. One quote feels particularly urgent today: "Let no man pull you so low as to hate him."
America is living through a moment of deep division. "We don't want them here....They are polluting our country... They are criminals...The day of retribution and reckoning is coming..." Political rhetoric, public policy, and the actions of those in power often seem designed to provoke fear, anger, and resentment rather than understanding or unity. Dr. King warned us about moments like this—when injustice tempts us to abandon our values.
At this time, immigrants—many of whom are our neighbors, coworkers, and family members—are routinely described as criminals while enduring aggressive ICE operations, mass deportations, family separations, and inhumane detention conditions. We have seen federal power used without sufficient accountability, including the killing of Renee Good by a federal agent and the refusal to conduct an independent investigation.
These actions have left many communities grieving and questioning whether justice applies equally to all.
Dr. King knew injustice firsthand. He was jailed, threatened, and ultimately killed for demanding equality. Yet he refused to meet cruelty with hatred. He understood that hate does not build justice—it only deepens division and hardens hearts.
The values that define America—and our community—are stronger than any moment of political turmoil. They include dignity for every person, equality under the law, freedom rooted in compassion, and democracy protected by truth rather than force.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us honor Dr. King not only with words, but with action. Let us speak out against injustice, care for our neighbors, and reject policies and rhetoric that divide us. And above all, let us refuse to let anyone pull us so low as to hate.
Choosing humanity is how communities heal. Choosing love is how progress is made.
