Side by Side: Texas State Party Chairs (Mostly) Reflect on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 18, 2021 - San Antonio
Dreaming of you. “Dr. King’s legacy was a desire for a kid like me to live the American dream, not denied or constrained by the color of my skin,” said Allen West, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas in a statement Monday. “I am the embodiment of his dream.” Pictured: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, located in West Potomac Park in Washington D.C. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- On Monday, leaders of both the Republican Party of Texas and the Texas Democratic Party offered their thoughts about the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with a few political punches
On Monday, as the nation remembered the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and DreamWeek San Antonio launched their first-ever virtual march in his honor, leaders of the Texas GOP and the Texas Democratic Party offered their thoughts about the heroic sacrifices of King, along with a few political punches.
First, Allen West, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, reflected on King’s life and legacy in an early morning statement.
“I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia’s historic Fourth Ward neighborhood,” he began. “It’s the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is there that he was born and raised, preached, and is laid to rest.
“Dr. King’s legacy was a desire for a kid like me to live the American dream, not denied or constrained by the color of my skin. I am the embodiment of his dream. Because of the ideals of equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes, I am a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, former member of Congress, and now, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, the largest state Republican Party in the nation.
“As well, I am a proud Black conservative man, married for 31 years with two awesome daughters. Dr. King’s dream did not include the decimation of the traditional nuclear family, nor the genocide of murdering over 20 million unborn black babies.
“Today we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but the reality is that we are not living up to his dream. We can do better in honoring the man from the Old Fourth Ward, and his true legacy.
“The Republican Party of Texas, founded in 1867 by 150 black men, celebrates individual rights, freedom, and liberty...[that was] Dr. King’s dream,” he concluded.
“The Texas GOP will continue to fight for Dr. King’s dream, for that is the best way to honor his legacy and the legacy of the men who founded the Texas GOP,” added a Texas GOP spokesperson.
On the other side of the aisle, Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa and Vice Chair Dr. Carla Brailey issued the following joint statement later that afternoon.
“Today we celebrate not only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life but the expectations he set for America,” the statement began. “Dr. King dreamed of a society that respects the rights and affirms the dignity of all people, regardless of color or creed, gender or ethnicity. Today we celebrate the strides our society has made, with this country set to inaugurate the first woman and first African-American Vice President in two days,” they said, referencing the upcoming swearing in of Senator Kamala Harris as the nation’s 49th vice president.
“However, the march towards justice is nowhere near over. Economic inequity, police brutality, and white supremacy threaten to undermine all of the progress that we have made. Black Lives Matter. As state Democratic leadership, we will continue to fight for racial justice, fix systemic inequalities, and combat discriminatory policies and practices through action and legislation like the George Floyd Act.
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“Sadly, elected officials, like [Texas Governor] Greg Abbott, [Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton, [Texas GOP Chairman] Allen West, and [Texas Lieutenant Governor] Dan Patrick love an excuse to pay homage to Dr. King as they actively stand in the way of human, civil, and voting rights of Texans.
“While Texas Republicans may stand [in] the pathway of achieving these goals, the Texas Democratic Party is encouraging fellow Democrats, in a call to service, to support local organizations like Feeding Texas that work to fulfill Dr. King’s dream of a more equitable and just society.
“While we’ve made great strides, Dr. King’s dream of a fair and equitable America is not fully realized. Now more than ever, we must stand up for what we know to be right and speak the uncomfortable truths to build on the progress Dr. King and so many champions of justice started,” they said.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded