Martin Luther King Jr. didn't carry just a piece of cloth to symbolize his belief in racial equality he carried the American flag.

We are now operating a school system in America that's more segregated than at any time since the death of Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the greatest champion of racial equality who taught a nation - through compassion and courage - about democracy nonviolence and racial justice.

What I've always said is that I'm opposed to institutional racism and I would've had I've been alive at the time I think had the courage to march with Martin Luther King to overturn institutional racism and I see no place in our society for institutional racism.

If we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday at a time of presidential inaugurals this is thanks to Ronald Reagan who created the holiday and not to the Democratic Congress of the Carter years which rejected it.

Each year on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth America has the opportunity to reflect on our nation's progress towards the realization of his dream.

Half a century ago the amazing courage of Rosa Parks the visionary leadership of Martin Luther King and the inspirational actions of the civil rights movement led politicians to write equality into the law and make real the promise of America for all her citizens.