Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Message from Clackamas County Bar Association

In advance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and in light of recent comments and events which do not align with the vision of the Clackamas County Bar Association, we wanted to take this opportunity to affirm that the Clackamas County Bar Association prides itself by respecting the diversity of all citizens of the County for whom we represent and advocate.  The CCBA believes in tolerance, equality and the golden rule that we treat others as we want to be treated.

We share a quote from Robert F. Kennedy following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization – black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King Jr. did, to understand and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, compassion and love…. What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”

If we stay silent in this moment, we run the risk of being here again. The Clackamas County Bar Association will continue to respect all members of our community while standing against intolerance and inequality.