HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4651, by Representatives Hansen, Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Angel, Appleton, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Billig, Blake, Buys, Carlyle, Chandler, Chopp, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Crouse, Dahlquist, Dammeier, Darneille, DeBolt, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Fagan, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hasegawa, Hinkle, Hope, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kirby, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, McCune, Miloscia, Moeller, Morris, Moscoso, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Orwall, Overstreet, Parker, Pearson, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Pollet, Probst, Reykdal, Rivers, Roberts, Rodne, Ross, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Seaquist, Sells, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Takko, Taylor, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, Wylie, and Zeiger

     WHEREAS, Today, January 16, 2012, we join every other person in the state of Washington and every other person throughout our nation in celebration, and in reflection, of the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
     WHEREAS, We recall Dr. King's words almost half a century ago when he stood bravely in our nation's capital, in the very shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, a magnificent tribute to the Great Emancipator, and articulated to all Americans a bold vision, declaring, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"; and
     WHEREAS, We remember Dr. King's courageous words and his unwavering commitment in the face of tyranny and oppression, suffering abuse and incarceration; and we thank him for his sacrifice; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. King's work, and the mere mention of his name, are synonymous with peace and equality; and
     WHEREAS, He received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964, the youngest man ever to be selected for this singular honor; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. King and his followers helped change the status quo through nonviolent means, with protests at lunch counters and a march on Selma; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. King helped bring to America an overdue end to segregation and, therefore, an overwhelming new beginning, thus fulfilling the promise of a democracy available to and emphasized for every American. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law because of the blood and tears shed, and the sweat invested, by Dr. King and his multitude of followers representing every community and every neighborhood of our great land; and
     WHEREAS, America and Americans continue to honor and find inspiration in his work long after assassination took him from his family and from his country in 1968, awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; and
     WHEREAS, Best known for leading the action and movement to halt racial injustice, Dr. King is also justly renowned for organizing the "Poor People's Campaign" to address and overcome issues of economic injustice;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of our state, recognize the importance of the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the civil society and freedoms of the United States of America and of the state of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Dr. King's memory by remembering that we, too, must remain resolute in our own pursuit of his dream of justice and equality for all people.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4651 adopted by the House of Representatives
January 16, 2012

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Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk