[injb]

The quote in question had nothing to do with that. It was a generic statement about leadership:

"‘the ultimate measure of a [leader] is not where [they] stand in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where [they] stand in times of challenge and controversy,’”

[alphabettsy]

Maybe you should check the context because it was absolutely about civil rights.

As a general rule, people shouldn’t use quotes when they don’t understand the context. It’s distasteful at best to use a quote like that for something so routine and trivial.

[woodruffw]

This is "states' rights" reasoning: "challenge and controversy" around what, precisely?

(It's exceedingly clear that MLK is talking about racial equality, and quoting him in an tone-deaf layoff email is execrable.)