WHEREAS, Through his leadership and his faith, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired others to engage in civic and social activism during the civil rights movement of the 1960s; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. King once said, "Everyone can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love"; and
     WHEREAS, His philosophy of nonviolence and equal access to rights promoted the principles of justice and opportunities for all Americans; and
     WHEREAS, Ultimately paying the highest price to make democracy a reality, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968; and
     WHEREAS, In 1986, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday; and
     WHEREAS, In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service; and
     WHEREAS, In life, Dr. King called on others to make a personal commitment to serve humanity by helping the less fortunate, uniting as a global family, and acting with kindness and open hearts; and
     WHEREAS, In the spirit of other great civil rights leaders such as Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, this holiday is a reminder that communities benefit through compassion and citizen involvement; and
     WHEREAS, Each year, people of all backgrounds celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the life and contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and our responsibility to serve humankind; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs.