Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

Dr. King worked for justice, most famously and successfully in the struggle for civil rights in the USA. Before he was killed, he was expanding the effort to help poor whites as well as blacks. He was connecting the Christian message of mercy with the circumstances in America and abroad. He spoke out against the US involvement in Vietnam. He challenged the comfortable cooperation of many mainstream Christian churches with imperial, capitalist America. He was threatening to throw the money changers out of the temple.

On the night before he died, he made a speech in which he seems to have prophesied his own death. Close associates wondered whether he had a premonition. He summarized an inspired survey of history by saying that this, now was his time. He concluded the brilliant speech with this:

"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. And He's allowed me togo up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Who could read or hear this without a thrill and a sadness, strangely mixed? He echoes Christ's plea and submission to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matt. 26:39. They were young men, only in their 30's, but both were threats to the state. The Romans did their killing in public. Pontius Pilot even tried to wash his hands of the proceedings in public. We Americans count on lone gunmen to do the job, so a quick rinse will do, in private.

It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence. MLK, Memphis, April 3, 1968, last public speech.