Summary

“Dr. King’s legacy of promoting peace, freedom, equality and justice for all through peaceful demonstration and the principal of love is as important today as it was 50 years ago. I look forward to working with my colleagues, constituents and our community this coming year to uphold these values.”

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles joined the County Council in celebrating the legacy of America’s foremost Civil and Human Rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in declaring January Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Month in the County named in his honor.

“Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the namesake of King County, is a wonderful way to begin my term as the newly elected King County Councilmember for District Four,” said Councilmember Kohl-Welles. “Dr. King’s legacy of promoting peace, freedom, equality and justice for all through peaceful demonstration and the principal of love is as important today as it was 50 years ago. I look forward to working with my colleagues, constituents and our community this coming year to uphold these values.”

In 1986, the King County Council recognized Dr. King’s contributions and legacy by redesignating King County in his honor. Councilmember Kohl-Welles was a member of the state Legislature in 2005 when legislation was adopted making the designation state law. Since 2007, the logo of the County has been an image of Dr. King.

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 and legacy by redesignating King County in his honor; 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-eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, held on January 14 at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre; and

WHEREAS, this year’s theme, “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word,” should remind us all that Dr. King’s greatest tool in building his “Beloved Kingdom” was the power of love;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council and the King County Executive proclaim the month of January 2016 as

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

DATED this eleventh day of January, 2016.