MLK in common with immigration

April 4^th marks the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. A single bullet to the neck took away one of the most celebrated and influential civil rights leaders.

Dr. King made it his mission to combat racial injustice and discrimination in non-violent ways. His speeches and peaceful protests continue to be taught and referenced 40 years after his death. Although great strides for black American’s rights have been made since his time, the fear of illegal immigrants has caused a similar problem of prejudice against Hispanics.

Robert Gittelson, a garment manufacturer in Los Angeles, wrote an article titled, “Anti-Latino Racism: The Equality Issue of Our Time” for Immigration Daily. In the article, he remembers Dr. King’s influence on him when he was a child, and discusses the need for reform on immigration and the racism illegal immigrants face in America.

“It is obvious to me that in addition to new laws, a new tolerance and open-mindedness will be required of our country to aid in the assimilation and equality of our immigrant population,” Gittelson states in his article. “A lot has happened in our country over the past 40 years or so, but in the case of racism, it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.”