Martin Luther King Jr.'s family is planning to commemorate the January federal holiday in a new way next month: pressuring Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation.
Martin Luther King III, a Republican, vows to use his father's memory to press Congress and the White House to get voting rights bills across the finish line. Just as they voted for a bill to deal with infrastructure, bridges, and all of the things that go along with infrastructure, we are now saying that we need to use that same effort to pass the John Lewis bill and the Freedom to Vote Act. Senate Republicans have blocked both bills and Senate Democrats have so far refused to change the rules that require 60 votes for most bills to advance. The Senate is split 50 -- 50.
At least 19 states enacted these laws last year, and Republican lawmakers have begun to lay the groundwork for similar legislation in the next year s legislative sessions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
The King family is joined by more than 75 groups in their campaign, including the National Action Network, National Urban League, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, SEIU and MoveOn. King also led a March on Washington in August in support of federal voting legislation, and many of the groups have been lobbying for congressional action for months.
Arndrea Waters King, who is married to Martin Luther King III, believes that this is a once in a generation opportunity to restore, protect and expand his father's legacy.
On January 15, family members will rally in Arizona, the home state of Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who opposes changing the Senate's filibuster rules. Two days later, family and supporters will march across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in the nation's capital before joining the annual D.C. Peace Walk to commemorate the holiday.
Martin Luther King III said, "I don't think any of us are doing enough, given that President Joe Biden is doing enough," Martin Luther King III said. Biden said at a Democratic National Committee event Tuesday night that they need to focus on the single most sacred right they have: the right to vote. The Senate Republicans blocked the way every time. He said they are afraid, even to debate the bills.