2012 -- S 2068

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LC00636

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF THE REVEREND DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Goodwin, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: January 17, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, On January 15, 1929, a child was born in Atlanta, Georgia, who would one

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day lead a nonviolent revolution that would forever change the social and political landscape of

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America; and

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     WHEREAS, The mirror that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held before the

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national conscience revealed the ugliness of racism and hatred that had divided America from the

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day it was born. Neither the carnage of civil war, nor even the thorough self-examination that Dr.

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King forced upon the nation, has entirely eradicated the injustices which still plague this nation.

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However, where would the social conscience of America be today were it not for the courage and

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teachings of this great man?; and

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     WHEREAS, There can be no doubt that Dr. King burned with the fire of revolution.

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Where others called for blood and violence to purify the nation, he preached nonviolence. His

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ironclad will knew that the justness of his cause would one day unite America. In his famed "I

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Have a Dream" speech before the Lincoln Memorial, he challenged the country to live up to its

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ideals; and

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     WHEREAS, For Dr. King, violence was a firestorm which must eventually consume the

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arsonist. Although the victim of violence throughout his public career, he never gave in to the

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darkness cloaking this great evil. Dr. King believed that violence did not change hearts. He

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believed that racial equality and social justice were more likely to come about through appeals to

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the public's collective conscience and by the examples being set by those advocating social

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justice and non-violence; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby commemorates the birthday of the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor

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not only the man and his accomplishments, but also the continuing process of social

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enlightenment he founded which lives with us still, ever pressing us to move beyond what we are

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and what we think we can be. A prophet of hope, Dr. King left a legacy which will live forever;

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to all general office holders, members of the

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Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, and the Martin Luther King, Jr., State Holiday

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Commission.

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