Steve Cohen: “Thomas Jefferson originally penned the Declaration of Independence that all men were created equal. But it was Dr.…”

“Thomas Jefferson originally penned the Declaration of Independence that all men were created equal. But it was Dr. Martin Luther King and civil rights workers that made those words ring true. It took almost 200 years for that to happen. On Sunday, in this Nation's Capital, Dr. King will be honored with the dedication of a monument to him on the Mall, and it's a monument to a great man who deserves recognition. But it should be considered a monument to all the civil rights workers, the sit-ins, the Freedom Riders, the students that went to Mississippi, that marched from Selma to Montgomery, the John Lewises, the Julian Bonds, the Joseph Lowerys, the Harry Belafontes, the Vasco Smiths, Maxine Smiths, Russell Sugarmans, and all the great civil rights leaders who made this country's promise be fulfilled. All men now are created equal, but we have a long way to go. I thank the civil rights workers. They are veterans fighting who had to fight their own country to secure the rights that we now enjoy. ____________________”