Washington, D.C – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio today issued the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Today, I join all Floridians in commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I recently took my children to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, where Dr. King delivered his timeless ‘I Have A Dream’ speech and took an important step to help America live up to our founding ideals and our destiny as the freest society in all of human history. As we stood next to the plaque marking the spot where Dr. King spoke, I thought of how his words have echoed far beyond those steps and far beyond that day, as his example continues to inspire people in all corners of the world, including Oscar Elias Biscet in Cuba and Liu Xiaobo in China, among others.

“In remembering Dr. King today, we are reminded that our work as a nation continues in order to ensure that all Americans have the freedom and opportunity to stake their claim to the American dream. In addition to recognizing the human dignity of every individual and safeguarding the free enterprise system that gives people a chance to rise above the circumstances of their birth, we must continue making strides to tear down the obstacles to progress that persist in our education system.”