But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! — Amos 5:24
Greetings, Religion Corner followers, as we remember that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed this week in 1968, on April 4. Let us walk through this season of remembrance. My spirit is stirred by the legacy of those who didn’t just talk about faith but lived it out in the streets. My heart is full as I look at our city this week. We are living in a time that demands more than just a “Sunday morning” faith. It requires a Monday-through-Saturday commitment to the justice the Lord calls for in His Word. This week, Washington, D.C., just witnessed a powerful surge of community action that reminds us we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
Just this past weekend, we saw millions across the nation, including a massive presence here in the District, take part in the “No Kings” March. As thousands crossed Memorial Bridge into D.C., their message was clear: power belongs to the people, and we must stand against any rising tide of authoritarianism. It reminded me of the spirit of young Claudette Colvin, an African American teenager who, at just 15 years old, refused to bow to the unjust laws of her time on March 2, 1955. She was the first to say “no” on those Montgomery buses, long before the world knew the names of others. Her courage was the spark that eventually ignited the flame for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose sacrifice we solemnly remember every April 4.
Nine months later, Rosa Parks, a seasoned NAACP secretary, continued the fight against segregation by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus on Dec. 1, 1955, building upon the earlier, pioneering stand of Claudette Colvin. Her arrest acted as a catalyst, transforming a spark into a widespread, community-driven movement that fundamentally challenged unjust laws.
But the work doesn’t stop at the protest. This week, we must turn our attention to the local fight for dignity and respect. The Free DC campaign is a grassroots movement dedicated to defending Washington, D.C.’s Home Rule and securing full democratic rights, including statehood, for its 700,000 residents. While the “Free D.C.” slogan dates back to civil rights organizing in the 1960s led by Marion Barry, the modern iteration launched in January 2025 as a direct response to increased federal interference in local affairs. The core goals and principles of the movement operate on the belief that D.C. residents deserve the right to self-determination without congressional overreach, with its strategies rooted in global pro-democracy research.
The new version of the “Free DC” campaign is mobilizing right now, starting with a movement about building the power necessary to protect our neighborhoods from a hostile administration that seeks to ignore the voices of D.C. residents.
Scripture tells us in Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” This is why we must also keep a close eye on our local governance. The D.C. Council just recently finished its Performance Oversight Hearings for 2026, and last week’s focus included critical issues like education and public works. Whether it’s advocating for safer streets or ensuring our children have the resources they need to thrive, your testimony could have made a difference — in fact, your action would have been a form of prayer in action. You still can help; keep up with the same oversight hearings, which will be scheduled for 2027.
As we prepare for the anniversary of Dr. King’s transition this week, let us not just mourn the man, but move the mission. Dr. King was taken from us at the Lorraine Motel at 6:01 p.m., but his dream cannot be killed by a bullet if we keep it alive in our works.
We are not where we have been for the past 150 years — things have changed. Each of us must do our part to turn this ship around; if not, all of us will go down with the ship! Join a meeting, testify at a hearing, or support the Free DC Project. Let your faith be felt in the halls of power and on the corners of our streets. Let me conclude this week’s column with Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
