John Kerry: “today, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, I am pleased to join with my colleague in the…”

“today, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, I am pleased to join with my colleague in the House, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to introduce the Martin Luther King, Jr., Record Collections Act. This act will ensure the expeditious disclosure and preservation of records relevant to Dr. King's life and death. Fully releasing these records--many of which are not subject to disclosure until 2038--will shed significant light on a turning point in American history. My friend, Representative John Lewis, explained its necessity quite eloquently: I, too, was the subject of unwarranted FBI surveillance during the Civil Rights Movement. Because we do not know this part of our history, it is clear that we are beginning to repeat it. Recently, we became aware of the administration's domestic spying program that has targeted peace groups that are carrying on the nonviolent action of Dr. King. It is time that we know our history, and passage of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Records Act will take us one step closer to uncovering that history. Judge Joseph Brown, the last presiding judge in James Earl Ray's post-conviction relief proceedings, also supports this legislation. He believes that it is important to: . . . fully release the still classified historical record surrounding the life and death of the late Dr. King.…”