Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the tragic assassination of one of the most iconic public figures in American history, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Church bells across the nation rang thirty-nine times this morning symbolizing Dr. King’s age at the time of his untimely death. In cities and towns across our nation, thousands gather at events to honor the legacy of the civil rights leader. President Trump issued the following video and proclamation in memory of the man who has become a beloved American legend and world-wide civil rights hero:

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Earlier this year I spoke about Dr. King’s legacy of justice and peace, and his impact on uniting Americans. #MLK50 Proclamation: https://t.co/XXtPO0VX5A pic.twitter.com/SH0esMSyMT

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2018

U.S Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04) provided the following words of remembrance via his official facebook page:

“For King as for other great apostles of the American spirit, tracing all the way from John Winthrop to Thomas Jefferson to Frederick Douglass to Lincoln and beyond, that promised land was America. Amid severely challenging conditions, King, like his great predecessors, never lost faith in his country as a unique land of liberty. We honor his memory best by carrying forward his luminous task of preserving and perfecting America.”

Nothing quite captures the indomitable spirit and profound oratory ability of Dr. King than the following video clip and quote from his final speech. With a hostile public and largely hostile government, the Reverend fearlessly spoke truth to power and always kept in mind what mattered most, salvation. Similarly to how the national anthem invokes chills every time I hear it, these words of the late and great Dr. King seem to churn the energy of the human spirit and serve as a reminder of the eternal grace of God.

“Like anybody I would like to live a long life, longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now, I just want to do God’s will… So I’m happy tonight, I’m not worried about anything, I’m not fearing any man! My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord!”

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The full speech can be found here: