Pelosi: On Martin Luther King Day: 'We Must Be Willing to Mold Consensus to Combat Injustices and Inequalities'

Washington, D.C - Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in recognition of Martin Luther King Day, which is observed on Monday, January 21st:

'This weekend, as we pause to reflect on the contributions of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., we recommit ourselves to his ideal of equality, which was the lifework of Dr. King and is both our nation's heritage and our hope.

'Dr. King wisely stated that 'a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.'  He courageously became that consensus builder, stressing spirituality over strife, and unity over violence.

'As a nation, we must be willing to mold consensus to combat injustices and inequalities of all shapes and sizes.  We must be intolerant of economic, environmental and social disparities on all levels.

'We must not rest in our efforts to create the America that Dr. King described - a beloved community.  The time is now to move our nation forward.  As Dr. King said, 'the time is always right to do what is right.''