BACKGROUND ON PRES. JOE BIDEN'S SPEECH AT AL SHARPTON'S NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK MLK EVENT
Today, President Biden will deliver the keynote address during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day breakfast, hosted by the National Action Network (NAN) and co-chaired by Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. He will be introduced by Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN.
Yesterday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the President urged Americans to remember Dr. King’s fight for justice and racial equality, praised Dr. King’s work toward changing the “Soul of America,” and acknowledged “the work that has to continue” including on economic justice and protecting our democracy.”
At the NAN MLK Day Breakfast, the President will invoke Dr. King’s vision and scripture to “never grow weary in doing what is right.” He will discuss the progress we have made in the past two years, not only to rescue the economy from the pandemic downturn, but to lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient, more equitable economy for decades to come. He will discuss how, as a result of his economic plan, Black unemployment is near record lows and small business creation is near record highs. The President will also discuss how we’re removing poisonous lead pipes, delivering high speed internet, and making a historic investment in our nation’s HBCUs. And he will discuss the work to deliver equal justice under the law, including by building a Federal bench with judges that reflect all of America—led by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The President will also make clear that the work is unfinished—and he will defend our progress. The President will work with Republicans in Congress to lower inflation, create jobs, and build an economy that works for everyone. But, like many Americans, he is disappointed to see that House Republicans’ very first bill would help wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes. And he stands ready to veto legislation that hurts working class families.
