HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 72

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

A JOINT MEMORIAL

HONORING AND MEMORIALIZING THE LIFE OF CORETTA SCOTT KING, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND LEADER AND SEEKER OF PEACE.

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King, the first lady of the civil rights movement, passed away on January 31, 2006; and

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King was the wife of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the leader of the American civil rights movement; and

     WHEREAS, after the assassination of Dr. King, Coretta Scott King gave much of her energy and attention to developing the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change as a memorial to her husband and to keeping his dream of human dignity and harmony alive; and

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King led the effort to establish a national holiday to commemorate Dr. King's achievements and his sacrifice for civil and human rights in America; and

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King was a world leader, traveling the globe to speak out on behalf of racial, gender, religious and economic justice and carrying her message of peace and human rights to many world and spiritual leaders; and

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King was an influential African-American leader who received over sixty honorary degrees from colleges and universities and helped to create many leadership organizations; and

     WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King was a woman of vision, wisdom and compassion and a great American;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the life and work of Coretta Scott King be honored; the positive influence that the work of Coretta Scott King has had in New Mexico, the nation and the world be recognized; and the memory of Coretta Scott King be used to promote peace and justice for all; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.

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