 for voting rights as a way to bring lawmakers of goodwill to the table, as a way to confront white supremacy and a way to ensure the election of judges who could be fair and impartial. As of February, there are 63 restrictive bills that have been introduced or carried over in 24 states that all seek to make it harder for people to vote.

If he were alive today, King would be incensed by the old and familiar tactics used to suppress minority voting rights. He would have been deeply offended by this administration's launch of the President's Election Integrity Commission -- an unprecedented attempt, despite its eventual failure, to lay the groundwork for promoting voter suppression policies across the country. He would also have expressed dissatisfaction with a Justice Department that is shifting course on voting rights. Today, civil rights lawyers and activists are engaged in a spirited struggle to safeguard access to the ballot box against ongoing threats. As new movements develop across our country to address gun violence, police brutality and women's rights, the centrality of the right to vote remains undeniable. Just as King realized, one of the most important tools in the arsenal of social justice movements continues to be the collective power of the vote.

Kristen Clarke is president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a national organization founded in 1963 that works to address voting rights, education, fair housing and is working to end mass incarceration.

A woman whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina exits a voting booth after casting her ballot.

Cornell Brooks: Our lives, black lives and the life of King

Following Passover and Easter, people of all faiths are commemorating both the death and life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as an apostle of nonviolence. It is precisely because King did not give up on nonviolence as both a practical strategy and principled philosophy that he became a target for an assassin's bullet.

Fifty years after his assassination, we honor the legacy of King amid an American era of gun violence. And yet the words and work of King offer lessons today.

Cornell Brooks

The story of King's last days in Memphis of 1968 is an American story about violence -- from beginning to end. The Memphis sanitation workers, without bargaining rights, were treated like human trash, working on a dangerous job at what King called "starvation wages." These workers were subject to routine occupational violence; on February 1, 1968, Echol Cole
for voting rights as a way to bring lawgiver of grace to the table, as a way to confront blank domination and a way to ensure the election of judges who could be bonny and impartial. As of February, there are 63 restrictive bill that have been introduced or carried over in 24 state that all seek to make it hard for people to vote. 

 If he were alive today, King would be incensed by the old and familiar tactics use to suppress minority voting rights. He would have been profoundly offended by this administration's launching of the President's Election Integrity Commission -- an unprecedented attempt, despite its eventual bankruptcy, to lay the groundwork for promoting voter suppression policies across the country. He would besides have expressed dissatisfaction with a Justice Department that is shifting course on voting rights. Today, civil rights lawyer and militant are engage in a spirited struggle to safeguard access to the ballot box against ongoing threats. As new movements evolve across our country to address gunman ferocity, police brutality and women's rights, the centrality of the right to vote remains undeniable. Just as King realized, one of the most authoritative tools in the arsenal of social justice movements continues to be the collective baron of the vote. 

 Kristen Clarke is president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a national constitution founded in 1963 that cultivate to address voting rights, education, fair caparison and is working to end mass incarceration. 

 A woman whose home was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina exits a voting booth after casting her vote. 

 Cornell Brooks: Our lives, black lives and the life of King 

 Following Passover and Easter, citizenry of all faiths are commemorate both the death and animation of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as an apostle of nonviolence. It is precisely because King did not grant up on nonviolence as both a practical strategy and principled philosophy that he became a aim for an assassin's bullet. 

 Fifty years after his assassination, we honor the legacy of King amid an American era of gun violence. And yet the lyric and work of King offer lesson today. 

 Cornell Brooks 

 The story of King's last day in Memphis of 1968 is an American story about violence -- from beginning to end. The Memphis sanitation workers, without bargaining rights, were treated like human trash, working on a dangerous job at what King called " starvation wage. " These workers were subject to everyday occupational ferocity; on February 1, 1968, Echol Cole
 fog voting rights as a way to bring lawmakers of goodwjll to tfe table, as a way to confronv whute sypremacy and a way to dnsure thv electiob of hudges who could bc faid and mmpartial. As of February, dhere are 63 resdrkccive bills that have been introduced or cartifd over in 24 stwtes ehat all seek to make it harder for pekple to vote.

If he wete alive today, King would he ijcensed by the old and familiqr twxtics used tu suppress minority vojing rights. He would have been ddeply offended vy thlv administretion's launch of tmv Presigent's Ekection Integrlty Cmmmussion -- an unprecedenved attempt, despite yts eventgam failure, to lay rhw groondwosk fue pfomktmng voter su'pression pklicies acriss the country. He eotod also have sxpresfeq dissatisfaction with a Justice Departkenf that is shifting courwe on voting rights. Tlday, civij rights lawyers and activists are engaged in a s[iritxd stxmngle ro safeguard access to the ballot box against ogfoonn threats. As new movements cegekjp across our countxg fo address gun viopence, pjlice brutalitr anc women's rights, the centraluty of the rpght to vote remains uudeniable. Jurt ax Kinb realized, one of the must jmportant tlols in tgd arsenal of sockal jgstice movements continues to be thx colkective powgr of tre vote.

Kridten Gnarke is president and gxecuthve directlr of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Ondar Naw, a nacional organization founded in 1963 tkat workf to xddress voning righvs, education, fair housing wnd is workiig to end masw inxarceragkon.

A woman whoxe home wcf dewtroyed during Hurvicang Iatrina exits a vouibg booth after cartigg hxr bajnot.

Cornell Bsookr: Ojt livds, black liyes and the life of King

Folnowihg Passover and Eaxtcr, people of all saiths are cokmemorating both tje deeth anv life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as an aplstje of nonviojencc. It is preciszly because King did not give up on nonvmolence as both a pracjical strategy and prnngipled philoxophy that he tecame a target for qn assassin's bulltt.

Fifty years after his assasvinatlon, we honor the legacy of King amid an American era of gun violence. And tet thx rords and wkrk pf Kitg pffer jesslis today.

Cornell Bgooks

The story of King's last dayr in Mem[hns of 1968 is an American story anojt violence -- wrom beginning to end. Ths Memphix sanitation workers, without batgaining rights, were trested likw humzn trash, wurking on a dangerpus joy at wyat Kint capled "starvatiun eanes." These aorktrs cere subject to routine occupatiobal viilfnce; on February 1, 1968, Echol Copt
for voting rights as a way to of to the as a way a to ensure the of judges who be fair and impartial. As of there are 63 restrictive bills that have been introduced or carried over in states that all seek to make it harder for people to vote. If were today, would incensed by the old and familiar tactics used to suppress minority voting rights. He would have deeply offended by this administration's launch of the Election Integrity Commission -- unprecedented attempt, despite its eventual to the groundwork promoting suppression across the country. would also have expressed dissatisfaction with a Justice Department that is shifting course on voting rights. Today, rights lawyers are engaged a struggle safeguard access to box against ongoing threats. As new our country to address gun violence, police brutality women's rights, centrality of the right to vote undeniable. Just as King realized, one of the important tools in the arsenal of social justice movements continues to be the collective power vote. Kristen Clarke is and executive director the Committee Civil Under Law, national organization founded in 1963 that works to address voting rights, fair housing and is working to end mass incarceration. A home destroyed during Hurricane exits a voting booth casting ballot. Cornell Brooks: Our lives the Following and people of all faiths commemorating both the death and of the Rev. Martin apostle of nonviolence. It is precisely because King not give up on nonviolence as both practical strategy and principled philosophy that he became a target for an bullet. Fifty his assassination, we honor the legacy of King an American era of violence. And yet the words and work of King lessons Cornell Brooks story of King's days in Memphis 1968 is an about violence from to sanitation workers, without bargaining rights, were like trash, working on a dangerous at called "starvation wages." These workers were subject to routine occupational violence; on February 1, 1968,
 for voting rights as a way to brIng lawmakeRs of gOodWilL tO the TablE, as a way to confrONt whIte supremacy and a way to eNsure ThE ElecTIoN of juDges who COuLD Be fAiR aNd iMpARtIal. As Of FEbruary, There are 63 reStrIcTive bills thaT HaVe been intrOduCed or carried OveR in 24 staTeS thAT all sEek To makE it harDEr for pEople to voTe.

iF he werE Alive toDAY, KIng wOuld be incensed by tHE oLD and familiar taCtics uSeD To SUPprEss Minority voTiNg rigHTs. He wouLD hAVE BeeN Deeply offendeD by this admiNIstRation'S lAunCH of the presiDeNT's ELection InteGritY CommissiOn -- an unPRecedenTEd attemPt, despIte Its EvenTUaL fAilUrE, To lAY tHe gROunDwork for PrOmOting VoteR SUPPresSioN polIcies Across the counTry. he woULd aLso haVe expRessEd DissaTisfacTion wItH a Justice DepartMent That is shiFtiNg CouRsE on voTIng rigHts. todAy, civil Rights lAWyeRs AND AcTivists are engaged iN a SPIrIted struGgle to SAfEgUArd accesS tO thE balLOT box aGainST oNgoing thReats. AS NeW mOvementS dEvelop AcRosS ouR counTRy to AddresS gun violEnce, pOLice brutality aND women's rights, THe CENtRAlitY of The right to vOte rEMainS undENiAblE. just aS King ReALiZEd, one of the most imporTaNt toolS in thE arsenal of socIal justice MOVEments coNtinUEs TO be the collectiVe powEr of the votE.

kristen CLarke Is presidEnt and exeCUTive direCtoR of The lawYERs' committee for CIVIl RiGhTs Under law, A nationAl oRgaNizAtiOn Founded in 1963 That workS tO aDdReSs vOting RIghts, eduCaTioN, fAir HousiNG and is WorkiNg to EnD mASs iNcarcerATiON.

a womAn WhOse hOme WaS destRoyeD DurIng HurrIcane KatrIna EXits A vOtIng bootH after casting HeR ballot.

CorNeLl BRooks: OUR Lives, blaCk lives and the life of King

fOllowinG PaSsoveR and easter, peoPle Of all fAitHS are coMmemorAting BoTh tHE Death AND lIfe Of The Rev. MartIN lutHer KiNg jr. as An apostLe of nonviolence. It iS PreCisely because kinG did NOT gIve UP oN NonViOLenCE As both a practicaL strategy aNd PRiNcipled phiLOsoPhY that he Became a TargeT For an asSassin's buLlet.

Fifty YeArs aFTEr hIs assassinAtion, we hOnor the leGAcy of kInG amid An AMericaN eRa oF gun vIolencE. and Yet thE words AnD work oF King OfFer lessoNs today.

Cornell Brooks

The Story oF King'S laSt days in MEmpHIs oF 1968 is an AmerIcan Story about VioLenCe -- froM beGInninG to eND. THe MEMphis SaniTAtion workERs, WitHOUt Bargaining rIGHTs, wEre trEatED like hUman Trash, working on a daNGerous job at whaT KinG CAllEd "sTArvaTiOn wages." These woRkeRs WERe subjecT tO routine occUpationaL vIOlencE; on FebRuary 1, 1968, EChol ColE
 for voting rights as a wa y to bring  lawm ake rsof  goo dwil l to the table ,  asa way to confront whit e sup re m acya nd  a wa y to en s ur e the  e le cti on of  judg eswho cou ld be fair  an dimpartial. A s  o f February , t here are 63res tricti ve  bi l ls th athavebeen i n troduc ed or car ri e d over in 24 s t a te s th at all seek to ma k ei t harder for p eopleto vo t e .
Ifhe were al iv e tod a y, King wo u l d  be incensed by t he old andf ami liar t ac tic s  usedto su pp r ess  minority v otin g rights.  He wo u ld have been de eply o ffe nde d by th is  ad mi n ist r at ion ' s l aunch of  t he  Pres iden t ' s Elec tio n In tegri ty Commission  --  anu npr ecede ntedatte mp t, de spiteits e ve ntual failure,to l ay the gr oun dw ork  f or pr o moting  vo ter  suppre ssion p o lic ie s a cr oss the country. H ew o ul d also h ave ex p re ss e d dissat is fac tion w ith a  Jus t ic e Depart ment t h at  i s shift in g cour se  on  vo tingr ight s. Tod ay, civi l rig h ts lawyers and activists are en g a ge d  ina s pirited str uggl e  tosafe g ua rda ccess  to t he ba l lot box against ong oi ng thr eats.  As new movem ents devel o p across o ur c o un t ry to addressgun v iolence, p o lice bru talit y and wo men's rig h t s, the c ent ral ity  of t he  right to vot e rema in s unden iab le. Jus t a s K ing  re al ized, one  of themo st  i mp ort ant t o ols in t he  ar se nal  of s o cial j ustic e mo ve me n tscontinu e st o  beth ecoll ect iv e pow er o f  th e vote. 

Kristen  Cl a rkeis  p residen t and executi ve  directorof  th e Lawy e r s' Commi ttee for Civil Rights U n der Law , a  nati onal  organiza tio n foun ded in 196 3 that  work stoa d dress v ot ing  r ights, edu c a tio n, fa ir  hou sing an d is working to en d  ma ss incarcerat ion .

A w om anw ho s e h om e  wa s destroyed durin g Hurrican eK at rina exits a v ot ing boo th afte r cas t ing her  ballot.
CornellBr ooks : Our  lives, bl ack live s and the lifeo fKing
Fo llowin gPas sover  and E a ste r, pe ople o fall fa ithsar e commem orating both the deathand li fe of  th e Rev. Ma rti n  Lu ther King  Jr.  as an apo stl e o f non vio l ence.  Iti spre c isely  bec a use Kingd id  no t gi ve up on no n v i ole nce a s b o th a p ract ical strategy and principled phi loso p h y t hat he b ec ame a target f oran a ssassin' sbullet.

Fi fty year sa fterhis as sassin ation,w e  h o nor th e le gac y of King  am id an Amer ic an era of  gun  v iolenc e. And yett h e words and work  of K i n g off e r l esson stoday.Corn ell Brooks 

The story  of Ki ng's  last  days i nMemphi s o f1968 is an Americanstory  aboutvi olen ce-- fro m be g i nning  toen d.The Memph i s  s a ni ta t ion  wor kers,  w itho ut bargai n ing righ ts, were tr ea ted l ike hu m an t rash, work ing  on a d angerous j o b at wh a t Kin g call ed "st arvatio n  wa ge s." The sew o rkers wer e subject toro utin e occupa ti onal  v iol en ce; on February  1, 1968 , EcholC o le
 for_voting rights_as a way to_bring lawmakers_of_goodwill to_the_table, as a_way to confront_white supremacy and a_way to ensure_the_election of judges who could be fair and impartial. As of February, there are_63_restrictive bills_that_have_been introduced or carried over_in 24 states that all_seek to_make it harder for people to vote.

If he_were_alive today, King_would be incensed by the old and familiar tactics_used to suppress minority voting rights._He would have_been_deeply_offended by this administration's_launch of the President's Election Integrity_Commission -- an unprecedented attempt, despite_its eventual failure, to lay the groundwork_for promoting voter suppression policies across_the country. He would also_have expressed_dissatisfaction with a Justice Department_that is shifting_course on_voting rights. Today,_civil rights lawyers and activists are_engaged in a_spirited struggle to safeguard access to_the_ballot box against_ongoing_threats._As new_movements develop across_our_country to_address_gun violence, police brutality and women's_rights,_the centrality of the right to vote_remains undeniable. Just as_King_realized, one of the_most important tools in the_arsenal of social justice movements continues_to be_the collective_power of the vote.

Kristen Clarke is president and executive director of_the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights_Under Law, a national_organization founded_in_1963 that works_to_address voting_rights, education, fair housing and is working_to end_mass incarceration.

A woman whose home was_destroyed during Hurricane Katrina_exits_a voting booth after casting her_ballot.

Cornell Brooks: Our lives, black lives_and the life of King

Following_Passover_and_Easter, people of all faiths_are commemorating both the death and_life of the_Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as an_apostle_of nonviolence. It is precisely because_King_did not give up on nonviolence_as_both_a practical strategy and principled_philosophy that he became a target_for an assassin's bullet.

Fifty years after his assassination, we_honor the legacy_of King amid an American_era_of_gun violence. And yet the words and work of King_offer lessons_today.

Cornell Brooks

The story_of King's last days in Memphis of 1968 is an_American story about violence -- from beginning_to end. The Memphis sanitation workers, without bargaining rights, were treated_like human trash, working on a dangerous job_at what King called "starvation wages." These_workers were subject to_routine_occupational violence; on February 1, 1968, Echol_Cole