I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
Reverand Martin Luther King Jr.
Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964
Martin Luther King Jr. was a freedom fighter.
A man who was not afraid to speak truth.
A man who the FBI found dangerous because he dared challenge the status quo.
He knew just by speaking out, he would be considered dangerous, but he also knew people needed to hear the truth. That they needed to be vindicated; reassured that the injustice happening to them was real. Despite being gaslit, beaten, spit on, yelled at, it was not imagination.
He chose the civil rights of many over his own safety.
Was he perfect? Absolutely not. But you’re unlikely to find any historical figure without blemish.
In honor of his commitment to speaking truth to power, I chose today to relaunch the Michigan Judicial Misconduct Database. A place where individuals who have been silenced, mistreated, or denied justice can reclaim their dignity, and prevent others from being mistreated.
I know what it’s like to be slapped down. To be told I didn’t really experience misconduct. To have people in power arrest you, silence you, prevent you from attending hearings for the person you’re advocating for, to catch them in misconduct and still at every turn. they attempt to discredit you and call you a liar.
I know what it’s like to have your dignity and narrative stolen from you.
To walk around lost wondering what’s next, but knowing that you have to keep working to uncover truth.
I am most definitely not, nor will I ever be, among the ranks of MLK, but I believe in his commitment to unarmed truth.
And I hope you join me.
