* 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: Councilmembers Harris, Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
A Tree for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A Living Memorial to a Fallen Hero
FOR the purpose of calling upon the Mayor and City Council and the citizens of Baltimore City to plant a tree in the newly renovated City Hall Plaza to honor a man whose life is a tribute to the pervasive power of an individual to forever change the landscape of the human condition.
Body
Recitals
Elected representatives of Baltimore City have been in the forefront of the movement to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1974, Baltimore City representatives to the Maryland General Assembly, after 4 years of heavy caucusing, prevailed upon the legislature to pass a law making Maryland the second state in the nation to declare the birthday of Dr. King an official state holiday. In 1983, the Baltimore City Council enacted Ordinance 901, renaming Harbor City Boulevard, Biddle Street, and Parkbiddle to be Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. And in 1996, Baltimore City state representatives were again successful in spearheading a movement to have a memorial tree planted on the State House lawn in honor of the slain Civil Rights leader.
"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree" - Martin Luther King, Jr.- a quote that has been taken literally to give impetuous to greening and conservation movements across the country and the world. One of the 99 memorial trees on the Capitol Grounds is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Japanese Zelkova, a1993 replacement for the original American Elm planted January 9, 1984; across the country, in 1987, an East Oakland community activist planted at tree on San Leandro Shoreline Park that, in 1993, was expanded to an entire grove, and the park was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Park; and across the world in Israel, in biblical Galilee, tens of thousands of young trees planted there flourish in a once-barren land in a forest planted and named in honor of Dr. King, in 1976, by the Georgetown University Gospel Choir, Georgetown Israel Alliance, Georgetown Eco-Alliance, and the Jewish Students Association.
In planting a tree in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Forest, in 1987, the Pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Metropolitan Church in Washington remarked "Martin Luther King, Jr. was great for his love of mankind. How fitting that he be remembered by planting trees here. He may be buried, but his leaves are still blooming in the hills"; Martin Luther King III added "This tree represents the continuity of my father's mission."
It seems fitting that we plant a tree in Baltimore in honor of a man of color who is honored by people of all colors as we continue to strive for inclusiveness in our spiritual, cultural, educational, and business communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Mayor and City Council and the citizens of Baltimore City will plant a tree in the newly renovated City Hall Plaza to honor a man whose life is a tribute to the pervasive power of an individual to forever change the landscape of the human condition.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Recreation and Parks, the Director of Public Works, the organizations listed in the Department of Planning Community Association Directory, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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