America’s Mission: Eradicating Discrimination, Prejudice, Racism

Respect for human rights is the basis of moral legitimacy and the criteria of government’s rightful authority.

U.S. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks with students about Black History Month alongside a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., during a tour of the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2014. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The immortal words authored by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence honor America and all who cherish freedom, liberty, and human dignity.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These words must eternally inspire our dedication to social justice, which can only be obtained when the dignity of every human person is respected.

Respect for human rights is the basis of moral legitimacy and the criteria of government’s rightful authority.

Respect for human rights is the basis of moral legitimacy and the criteria of government's rightful authority.