In Washington, DC, today, Barack Obama was sworn-in to a second term as President of the United States. During his inaugural address, Obama spoke of continuing the march of civil rights, a fitting theme for an inauguration day that fell on the same day that the nation commemorates the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday:
"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths -- that all of us are created equal -- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth."
Of course, the locations Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall are all key locations for advances in the Civil Rights Movement of women, African-Americans, and the gay community, respectively. For those who wish to delve deeper into these historic destinations, follow these links for more information:
- Visit the Women's Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, New York
- Walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma (and other locations) in Alabama
- See the Stonewall Inn in New York City
Related Links:
- Lands of Lincoln: Destinations Touched by President Abraham Lincoln
- Birmingham, Alabama, Commemorates Civil Rights Anniversary
- Coming to DC in 2015: National African American History and Culture Museum
Photo of the U.S. Capitol building on Inauguration Day 2013 via Flickr by politicalpulse