Sanford Bishop: “I rise today in memory of an extraordinary woman and in recognition of a life that meant so much to so many. I was…”

“I rise today in memory of an extraordinary woman and in recognition of a life that meant so much to so many. I was honored to know Coretta Scott King. She was a woman of great eloquence and dignity, but also of great faith. She endured hatred, violence and ultimately the loss of her husband, but she never lost her vision for mankind or her determination to stand up for what is right and what is just. Coretta Scott King was one of the greatest activists in our Nation's history and it is right that we honor her here today. She carried on the legacy of her husband, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, but she had her own legacy--a legacy of putting herself on the line to make the world a better place for all of God's children. And many of us continue to reap the rewards of her work today. Mrs. King called ``Hate . . . too great a burden to bear.'' Saying, ``It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.'' These are words that not only inspired millions, but that must continue to inspire us today. As we meet in these hallowed halls, we must remember the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. King and the dream that defined their lives. We mourn her passing, but the best way to celebrate her life and legacy is to recommit ourselves to the ideals of equality and justice for all. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the children and family of Coretta Scott King. Today, we have truly lost an American treasure.”