* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton, President Dixon, Councilmember Rawlings Blake
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Mrs. Coretta Scott King - Keeping the Dream Alive
FOR the purpose of celebrating the life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., referred to as the first lady of the modern civil rights movement, an everlasting symbol of devotion to the struggle for peace and equality, a teacher and inspiration to us all, and an ambassador of justice and goodwill throughout the world.
Body
Recitals
Coretta Scott King is one of the most influential women leaders that the world has ever known. Prepared by her family, education, and personality for a life committed to social justice and peace, she entered the world stage in 1955, as the wife of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and as a leading participant in the American Civil Rights Movement. Her remarkable partnership with Dr. King resulted in four talented children and a life devoted to the highest values of human dignity and social change.
During the 1950's and 1960's, Dr. Martin Luther King emerged as the greatest civil rights leader of all time. Dr. King and his wife championed the defiance of segregation laws and fought for equal rights for all people regardless of race, color, or creed. While devoting the majority of her time to raising their 4 children, Mrs. King continued to use her many talents as a musician and a teacher to remain active in the civil rights movement by creating an acclaimed series of Freedom Concerts, combining poetry, narration, and music to tell the story of the civil rights movement.
In 1962, Mrs. King served as a Women's Strike for Peace delegate to the seventeen nation Disarmament Conference in Geneva Switzerland. Even prior to her husband's public stand against the Vietnam War in 1967, Mrs. King functioned as a liaison to peace and justice organizations, and acted as a mediator for all of those who could not be heard.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Just four days after her husbands death, Mrs. King went on to lead a march of over 50,000 through the streets of Memphis, never losing sight of the significance and importance of the cause. In addition to the marches, protests and speeches, Mrs. King continued to immerse herself in the civil rights movement by building the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, an educational institution and a testament to her husbands work and purpose. For 27 years, Mrs. King devoted herself to developing the King Center and built it into an educational facility that continues to provide local, national, and international programs that have trained and educated tens of thousands of people in Dr. King's philosophy and methods.
In the early 1980's, Mrs. King spearheaded the educational and lobbying campaign to establish Dr. King's birthday as a national holiday. In January 1986, Mrs. King oversaw the first legal holiday in honor of her husband, a holiday which has come to be celebrated by millions of people world wide. As one of the most influential African-American leaders of our time, Mrs. King has received honorary doctorates from over 60 colleges and universities, has authored 3 books, and has served on or helped found dozens of organizations.
As one of the world's most respected women, Coretta Scott King remained an outspoken champion of justice and human dignity until the end of her days. Her efforts will be forever remembered through her hard work and dedication, and her spirit will forever remind us, "When you are willing to make sacrifices for a great cause, you will never be alone".
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body celebrates the life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the first lady of the modern civil rights movement, an everlasting symbol of devotion to the struggle for peace and equality, a teacher and inspiration to all, and an ambassador of good will throughout the world.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Family of Coretta Scott King, the Mayor, the Baltimore City Chapter of the NAACP, the National Chapter of the NAACP, the Members of Baltimore City Delegation to the 2006 General Assembly, the Members of the Community Relations Commission, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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