As we commemorate the vast legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded in this moment of one of his most powerful messages, in his Christmas Sermon on Peace in 1967, he said “We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  The message was simple and direct.  We, regardless of our station in life, are all in this together.

President Donald Trump does not believe this.  He is stronger when we are divided.  He is stronger when we are suspicious of the immigrants moving into our communities.  He is stronger when we think someone who doesn’t look like us is taking our job or threatens our family.  I won’t dignify his comments about African and Latin American countries by repeating them in this message.  He embarrasses our nation and the Office of the Presidency on a weekly and daily basis.

The emotional allure of his divisive politics got Donald Trump elected President.  But it will take remembering the “single garment of destiny” that binds us all together to defeat him and the destructive ideology that he champions.  Prince George’s County is one County and we rise together.  It isn’t good enough that the schools in my neighborhood are great if yours are not.  It isn’t enough progress if my family has access to quality, affordable health care and yours does not.  If your neighbors don’t feel safe at night, the fact that mine do just isn’t enough.  We are one County and we rise together.

Thank you for continuing to believe and fight for the dream of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all of those on whose shoulders we stand in the cause of equality, opportunity, and freedom.

-Mel Franklin, Councilman

Candidate for Council At-Large