Editors, Vineyard Gazette;

Wednesday, April 16 marks the 62nd anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Given the current divisions in America, this patriotic letter takes on particular significance. I would urge everyone to read or re-read this letter.

Reverend King went on to give a patriotic speech on August 28 of the same year, 1963. Sadly, these two acts of patriotism were tarnished by the brutal murders of four young black girls attending Sunday School at the 16 Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, an obvious KKK retaliation to the success of the Birmingham March, which was chronicled in the Reverend King’s Letter.

A final note, the I Have A Dream speech was given at the March on Washington for jobs and freedom — need I say more. 

Dr. William D. McLaurin
Oak Bluffs