SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8604

By Senators Franklin, Gaspard, Rasmussen, Spanel, Snyder, Oke, Pelz, Sheldon, Wojahn, C. Anderson, Haugen, Fraser and Kohl

     WHEREAS, We live in a time when racial and cultural intolerance is too often a source of violence and mistrust; and

     WHEREAS, The forms of racial and social injustice may have become less overt and more subtle in 1995, and continues to manifest itself in many ways; and

     WHEREAS, The law in theory assures all citizens of equality, the fact remains that we must, each one take responsibility for pursuing justice and equality each day of our lives; and

     WHEREAS, In America today we rarely discuss openly and honestly our differences and our own biases and prejudices, thus perpetuating the problem; and

     WHEREAS, The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s example of confronting directly the issues that divide us along racial and cultural lines is one that we would do well to emulate today; and

     WHEREAS, The increasing separation of citizens into groups of like color and ethnicity as a way of dealing with racism is racist in and of itself, and is directly at odds with Rev. King's message of unity and equality; and

     WHEREAS, We as a nation and people can only rise united, and most surely will fall when divided; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. King's message of peaceful perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles to equality is still a source of inspiration and hope for us as a nation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby honor the memory of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., a man of peace who saw injustice and tried to end it for the benefit of all Americans, and urge the citizens of Washington to put aside desires to separate along racial and cultural lines and instead heed his message of peace, unity, equality and social justice.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1995-8604,

adopted by the Senate January 16, 1995.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate