ATLANTA — As the country remembers the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) said it’s important to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for civil rights.
“In light of where we are as a nation now, we have to remember the civil and human rights of others,” McBath said outside of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the 51st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service was held Monday in Atlanta. “We must remember the lives of those who fought and died for the right to be able to vote, to be able to work, and to have the American dream.”
McBath, the first person of color to represent Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, said that the message that needs to be sent back to Washington – currently embroiled in the longest-running government shutdown in history – is a reminder that lawmakers are responsible for standing up for the most vulnerable in society.
RELATED: MLK Day events around Metro Atlanta
“We need to get back on track and remember why we all stand and fight for civil and human rights. If we’re not careful enough, they can be taken away,” McBath said. “We have to diligent and vigilant that we always care for the least of us. Each and every person here today (at Ebenezer Baptist Church) will be reminded that we have a lot of work to continue to do, but that we are responsible and accountable that everyone’s human and civil rights are abided by, and democracy serves us all. Too much is at stake.”