DENVER – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today issued the following statement in recognition of Black History Month:

“At each juncture in our history, African Americans have fought to make our country more free, democratic, and just. And every February, Black History Month gives us the opportunity to honor these efforts, as well as the extraordinary contributions African Americans have made to our nation.

“But as I said at Denver’s annual Marade last month, there is still more work to do. In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King reminded us that, ‘We cannot rest. Laurels have not yet been earned.’ His words remain true today. Despite progress, African Americans still confront enduring inequalities in our society—in schools, courtrooms, and voting booths—and persistent disparities in economic opportunity, housing, and healthcare. This is unacceptable in America.

“So as we celebrate Black History Month by remembering leaders like Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, and Dr. King, let’s also do more. Let’s rise to their example by working to make this country what it ought to be.”