WHEREAS, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929, dedicated his life to promoting peace, freedom, equality, and justice for all through non-violent means; and

WHEREAS, federal and state legislation has recognized Dr. King’s legacy as one of America’s outstanding civil rights leaders by adopting his birthdate as a national event and holiday in this country; and

WHEREAS, on February 24, 1986, the King County Council recognized Dr. King’s contributions by redesignating King County as Martin Luther King, Jr. County; and

WHEREAS, on February 27, 2006, King County became the first government in the nation to adopt the image of our foremost civil rights leader as its official logo; and

WHEREAS, since March 12, 2007, King County’s official logo bears the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, King County government continues its tradition of commemorating Dr. King’s ideals of peace, freedom, equality, and justice with its twenty-fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, held on January 13 at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre; and

WHEREAS, this year’s theme, “We are the ones we have been waiting for” celebrates Dr. King’s work to make this one nation with equity and justice for all, and recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to continue that work;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council and the King County Executive, proclaim the month of January, 2011, to be

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MONTH

in King County. All King County employees are encouraged to honor and remember Dr. King for his humanitarian values and to work toward their realization.

DATED this tenth day of January, 2011.