04-R 026

2004 -- S 2109

Enacted 01/15/04

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 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Ciccone, Perry, and Parella

Date Introduced: January 15, 2004

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

day lead a nonviolent revolution to forever change the social and political landscape of America;

and

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

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

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

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

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

teachings of this great man?; and

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

where others called for blood and violence to purify the nation, he preached nonviolence and an

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

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

ideals; and

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

arsonist. The victim of violence throughout his public career, he never gave into the darkness

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

racial equality and social justice were more likely to come about through appeals to the public's

collective conscience and by the examples being set by those advocating social justice; now,

therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

it further

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

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

Rhode Island congressional delegation and the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday

Commission.

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LC00740

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