HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2015-4603, by Representatives Chopp, Kristiansen, Appleton, Bergquist, Blake, Buys, Caldier, Carlyle, Chandler, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, DeBolt, Dent, Dunshee, Fagan, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Gregerson, Gregory, Griffey, Haler, Hansen, Hargrove, Harmsworth, Harris, Hawkins, Hayes, Holy, Hudgins, G. Hunt, S. Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Kochmar, Kretz, Lytton, MacEwen, Magendanz, Manweller, McBride, McCabe, McCaslin, Moeller, Morris, Moscoso, Muri, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Parker, Peterson, Pettigrew, Pike, Pollet, Reykdal, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Schmick, Scott, Sells, Senn, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Stambaugh, Stanford, Stokesbary, Sullivan, Takko, Tarleton, Taylor, Tharinger, Van De Wege, Van Werven, Vick, Walkinshaw, Walsh, Wilcox, Wilson, Wylie, Young, and Zeiger

WHEREAS, Today, January 19, 2015, the people of the great state of Washington and the nation join together to celebrate and honor the life, legacy, and work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King passionately upheld the virtues of compassion and fairness and boldly shared his vision with America in our nation's capital by 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, Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and on June 18, 1953, he and Coretta Scott were married in Marion, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Despite Dr. King's assassination on April 4, 1968, his legacy of compassion and nonviolence lived on through his followers and his wife, Coretta Scott King; and

WHEREAS, We remember Dr. King's unwavering commitment to the ideals of equality and opportunity for all in the face of tyranny, oppression, and abuse by those in power; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King was jailed several times throughout his life because of his commitment to a country free of discrimination and violence; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King brought the realities of segregation and racial injustice to the forefront of American discussion at dinner tables across the country, helping to bring an end to unjust laws, and fulfilling the promise of a democracy for every American; and

WHEREAS, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law because of the blood, sweat, and tears shed by Dr. King and his followers from every community and every neighborhood in the United States; and

WHEREAS, His message of equality and opportunity for all was not limited to the halt of racial injustice, it also extended to the need for economic justice for all people, so that all may live free of the burdens of poverty; and

WHEREAS, He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the youngest man to ever be selected for this remarkable honor; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's life and work will be forever celebrated through a permanent federal holiday commemorating his birth established by the Congress of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's legacy has inspired Americans long after his assassination to honor him still, posthumously awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; and

WHEREAS, We continue to look toward Dr. King's teachings and lessons as we tackle the issues of achieving complete racial, social, and economic justice for all Washingtonians;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of the State of Washington, recognize and honor the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his commitment to a just and free world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on the people of the State of Washington to join us in reflecting on Dr. King's life and ideals and to seek to fulfill his dream of equality and opportunity for all people.

 

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

Resolution 4603 adopted by the House of Representatives

January 19, 2015

 

 

 

 

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Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk