Inauguration Reflections and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Call-to-Action

So many of us are breathing a huge sigh of relief this week — not due to any particular partisan or electoral outcome, but because our nation’s Inauguration Day went off largely without incident. It’s hard to believe that the peaceful transfer of power is something that could be at risk in a 240-year-old democracy, but here we are. That peaceful transition was a tradition that had, prior to 2020, been upheld since 1801.

The violent, anti-democratic actions we’ve seen here in Salem and in our nation’s capital in recent weeks are a reminder that we can’t take anything for granted. The threats of white nationalism, systemic racism and economic inequality are just as real today as they’ve ever been in our nation’s history.

All of us here at Oregon Food Bank are as dedicated as ever to dismantling the policies and systems that drive hunger in our communities. It’s fitting that this Inauguration Day follows our annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. To further embrace and carry out King’s call to take action, we held a virtual equity training this past MLK Day. (Thank you to all that were able to join! We look forward to hosting more in the coming months.)

Many of the challenges and hurdles we face today are the same barriers Dr. King and so many others faced throughout the 1950s and 60s. We are witnessing growing calls for equity and justice met with anger and vitriol; peaceful demonstrations met with violence; and democratic institutions attacked in the hopes of maintaining a status quo where too many of us struggle with hunger and poverty.

And yet, despite these barriers, neighbors of all races, cultures and creeds came together to embrace democracy and push for monumental change — work that continues today. In response, we honor Dr. King’s legacy by heeding his words on the fierce urgency of now:

I urge you to join us in making Dr. King’s vision real.  The past weeks and months have served as a painful reminder that our work together is as important today as it has been for decades — a reminder that we need real action to protect inclusive democracy and tackle the root causes of hunger. I’m so grateful to have you with us in this mission as we all work together to emerge stronger.

The Oregon Legislature kicked off their 2021 session this week, giving our community the chance in the coming weeks and months to influence public policy to drive down hunger. Stay up-to-date with opportunities to get involved this legislative session and beyond by signing up for our email alerts. Be an advocate for ending hunger here in Oregon and throughout the country. Together, we can end hunger for good.