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Dr King addressing a rally

Ivorians Celebrate the Life and Ideals of Dr Matin Luther King, Jr.

U.S. Ambassador Aubrey Hooks paid high tribute to Dr Matin Luther King, Jr. during a diplomatic reception held at his residence, January 19. About 400 Ivorian political figures, government officials, municipal authorities, civic activists, community leaders, social commentators, NGO directors, educators, lawyers and cultural icons gathered at the Residence to salute the life and accomplishments of a great American, Dr. Martin Luther king, Jr., whose values have been embraced worldwide.

Ambassador Hooks praised King’s leadership and contribution to the civil rights movement in the United States, noting that Americans remember and celebrate the life of Dr. King because of his ideals, and his struggle to make them real.

In every speech he gave, in each peaceful protest he organized, in each letter he wrote, and in each march he led, Martin Luther King, Jr. stressed that justice, equality, and freedom for all its citizens were the values by which America should live.  Dr. King eschewed revenge in the pursuit of a better, more just society, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in recognition of his work.  

The Ambassador’s remarks were followed by a dramatic reading of Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech, and a gospel rendition of the civil rights movement’s unofficial anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”