HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2021-4601

HR 4601

ByRepresentatives Jinkins, Wilcox, Abbarno, Barkis, Bateman, Berg, Bergquist, Berry, Boehnke, Bronoske, Caldier, Callan, Chambers, Chandler, Chapman, Chase, Chopp, Cody, Corry, Davis, Dent, Dolan, Duerr, Dufault, Dye, Entenman, Eslick, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Gilday, Goehner, Goodman, Graham, Gregerson, Griffey, Hackney, Hansen, Harris, Harris-Talley, Hoff, Jacobsen, J. Johnson, Kirby, Klicker, Klippert, Kloba, Kraft, Kretz, Leavitt, Lekanoff, Lovick, MacEwen, Macri, Maycumber, McCaslin, McEntire, Morgan, Mosbrucker, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Paul, Peterson, Pollet, Ramel, Ramos, Riccelli, Robertson, Rude, Rule, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shewmake, Simmons, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Sutherland, Taylor, Thai, Tharinger, Valdez, Vick, Volz, Walen, Walsh, Wicks, Wylie, Ybarra, and Young

WHEREAS, Today, January 18, 2021, the people of Washington state join the nation in honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King was born on Tuesday, January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, attended a segregated school, entered college at the age of 15, and subsequently dedicated his life to advancing civil rights; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King led not just by words but by deeds, helping organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the nonviolent protests in Birmingham, and a massive march on Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King traveled over 6,000,000 miles, spoke over 2,500 times, and was imprisoned 29 times for his dream of equality, peace, and economic justice; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 35, Dr. King was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, subsequently donating his prize money to further the civil rights movement; and

WHEREAS, The work of Dr. King was instrumental in the ratification of the 24th Amendment and the passing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed racial discrimination and segregation in voting, public facilities, employment, and education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King also fought for economic justice and opportunity, and was in Memphis, Tennessee, to support striking workers when he was shot on April 4, 1968; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King wrote, "Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not-too-distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating beauty," and he composed this letter of hope and inspiration while behind the iron bars of a Birmingham jail cell; and

WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in 1983 dedicating the third Monday of each January as a federal holiday to recognize the profound legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of Washington state, honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King through a renewed commitment to hope, civility, and justice during this time of fear and division; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on the people of Washington state to exemplify Dr. King's ideals of nonviolence, democratic participation, fairness, and perseverance on this day and every day to come.