NASHVILLE – United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today released the following statement commemorating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday:
“We appropriately pause today to reflect on the lessons and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognize that we must strive every day to achieve his dream of freedom, justice, and equality for all. Dr. King once said: ‘Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies.’ It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love.’ I hope that all Americans will join me in taking this to heart as we strive to live by his example.”