SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement commemorating the beginning of Black History Month:
“This month, we commemorate and pay tribute to the incredible contributions that Black Americans have made to the rich tapestry of American life and the history of our nation. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nellie Stone Johnson, Roy Wilkins, Dr. Josie Johnson, Congressman John Lewis, and so many others worked, struggled, and sacrificed so much to lift up communities of color and help our nation live up to our ideals.
“If we are to follow in these leaders’ footsteps and carry on their work to build a truly just society, we must be honest about our successes and our shortcomings when it comes to racial equity. In January, I was both proud and moved to see Minnesota swear in our most diverse state legislature in state history, driven almost exclusively by DFLers. Our commitment to equity and fairness does not stop at building a more representative legislature, though. Ongoing racial disparities throughout our nation and significantly in Minnesota, from housing to education to the impact of COVID-19 and beyond, continue to erect barriers to achieving the American Dream for far too many Black and Brown Americans and that is unacceptable. As we celebrate Black History Month let’s honor the work of so many who came before us by rededicating ourselves to the fight for equity, fairness, and justice for all.”