HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4604, by Representatives Chopp, Kristiansen, Appleton, Barkis, Bergquist, Blake, Buys, Caldier, Chandler, Chapman, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, DeBolt, Dent, Doglio, Dolan, Dye, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Goodman, Graves, Gregerson, Griffey, Haler, Hansen, Hargrove, Harmsworth, Harris, Hayes, Holy, Hudgins, Irwin, Jenkin, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Kloba, Koster, Kraft, Kretz, Lovick, Lytton, MacEwen, Macri, Manweller, McBride, McCabe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morris, Muri, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Pellicciotti, Peterson, Pettigrew, Pike, Pollet, Reeves, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shea, Short, Slatter, Smith, Springer, Stambaugh, Stanford, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Tarleton, Taylor, Tharinger, Van Werven, Vick, Volz, J. Walsh, Wilcox, Wylie, and Young

WHEREAS, Today, January 16, 2017, the people of the state of Washington and the nation come together to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and

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

WHEREAS, Dr. King vehemently defended the idea of equality in America and sought to protest through nonviolent means, even when the odds were against him, as evidenced in his march through Selma, Alabama, which came to be after two failed attempts ended in obstruction; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed several times throughout his struggle to bring all people the opportunity to live free from racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination and violence; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King endorsed the truth that America had the capacity to change 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's belief in equality and opportunity for all was not confined to the termination of racial injustice, but also extended to the necessity of economic justice for all, so that no man or woman would live in the bondage of poverty; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King propelled the truths of injustice and brought to light racial discrimination and segregation, making a public conversation about it that helped to bring an end to unjust laws; and

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

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

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

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 free and just 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 lasting contributions to racial and social tolerance, and seek to fulfill his dream of equality and opportunity for all people.