On March 20, 2014 the CIA published a press release on its website to honor Martin Luther King Jr. – the slain civil rights leader killed by a sniper’s bullet at approximately 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968.
The press release read as follows:
“Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John O. Brennan joined CIA employees and guest speaker Geoffrey Canada today at a ceremony at Agency Headquarters to honor the life and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This important annual event underscores CIA’s commitment to the message of inclusion that Dr. King so eloquently championed during his lifetime. The theme of this year’s event is “Let Us Use Today to Work Toward a Better Tomorrow.”
The Director opened his remarks by extolling Dr. King’s efforts to transform the United States into a freer, more tolerant society. “Today, we see Dr. King’s legacy all around us, in virtually every field, in both government and private industry,” Director Brennan said. “As Dr. King knew, the full promise of America will only be met when we draw on the skills and talents of all our people.”
Adding: “We all know that meeting our Agency’s global mission depends on recruiting and training a workforce that represents an array of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. And thanks to the effort of dedicated officers throughout our Agency, we are building the diversity our mission demands.”