Are you going to be the change that you want to see in the world?

Happy MLK Day to you all! I hope that on this day we are being active members in our community, paying reverence to an individual who gave his life to causes that he believed in. Yesterday marked the 83rd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Before he died, Dr. King fought tirelessly to address equal rights and justice for all, bring peace and end war, and aid working families in an effort to eradicate poverty. Many of us are familiar with MLK's world famous "I Have a Dream" speech on race relations in America. His cadence, honesty, and the picture that he painted in that speech still gives me goose bumps every time that I hear it. However, in light of our current economic situation, I would like to focus on the issue of poverty and economic inequality.

King once said,"What good is having the right to sit at a lunch counter if you can't afford to buy a hamburger?" This past weekend I was in Seattle at the WRBLSA Convention and I had the pleasure of hearing the Honorable Andrew Young speak about his experiences fighting for civil rights with Dr. King. He was very animated when he spoke about the disparity in economics still plaguing us today. He said that with our law degrees, we are able to do so much to combat issues of economic injustice including lobbying elected officials for legislation that will positively aid those who are unemployed and seeking relief. MLK's "Poor People's Campaign" was exactly that, a request for legislation that would empower to those impoverished Americans who were laborers and needed some assistance.

As we remember the life of MLK as a civil rights advocate, lets continue being champions for the people, fighting for justice, and advocating for a better future. The system is currently working to further restrict an individual's abilities to execute their right to vote. With each state that passes a new voter ID requirement, that is one less voter who can exercise their voice to change the system. NBLSA is in support of Election Protection and has partnered with organizations such as the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Hip Hop Caucus to fight against this practice that "threaten[s] the fundamental right to vote for many eligible voters." Fighting against an issue like these is a must, but it is an especially important fight during a Presidential election year.

I would also like to note that NBLSA's Hill and Government Days are quickly approaching. Our advocacy team has been working hard to solidify great interaction with the legislative process. This is another opportunity for us as students to be involved and do something today to bring justice for tomorrow. MLK was truly a champion of the people. Andrew Young said that Dr. King knew his time on earth was quickly coming to an end, and he wanted to be with those he was fighting for when his body would breathe that final breath. My hope is that we can all say that we gave our life for something more important than ourselves.

Pleasantries.