WHEREAS, Today, the third Monday in January, we remember and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who became a beacon of hope for actualizing equality in our nation; and

WHEREAS, 2018 marks the fifty year anniversary of Dr. King's untimely death; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King used his gift of oration to awaken America to the struggles of disenfranchised communities through nonviolent means; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged others through his dedication to achieving equality. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's unwavering support for the principles of racial justice and social equality helped transform America; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's steadfast pursuit of fairness encouraged others, as exemplified in his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," in which he said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King believed that a person's worth should be measured not by his or her color, culture, or class but rather by his or her commitment to making life better for all through service rendered to each other;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate, in recognition of the courageous leadership and legacy of hope demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., honor his memory by urging all citizens of our state to continue the legacy of Dr. King by treating all people as equal.