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SR8605 • 2026
Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Dr.
Adopted.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
WHEREAS, Today, the third Monday in January, we remember and 1 honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a visionary 2 leader and tireless advocate for justice, who devoted his life to 3 breaking down barriers of inequality and inspiring generations to 4 build a more inclusive and compassionate world; and5 WHEREAS, Dr. King's courage and steadfast commitment to 6 nonviolent resistance led to transformative victories, including the 7 Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which 8 strengthened the foundation of justice and fairness in our nation; 9 and 10 WHEREAS, Dr. King's eloquent words, as captured in iconic 11 speeches like "I Have a Dream" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail," 12 continue to uplift and inspire us to confront injustice, envisioning 13 a future of equality and hope, reminding us that "The arc of the 14 moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice"; and15 WHEREAS, Through his leadership, Dr. King united millions in the 16 fight against hatred and oppression, showing the extraordinary power 17 of collective action rooted in love, dignity, and resolve; and18 WHEREAS, The establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a 19 federal holiday in 1983, achieved after 15 years of determined 20 advocacy by leaders such as Coretta Scott King and the Congressional 21 Black Caucus, stands as a powerful testament to the enduring strength 22 of community and the belief that progress is always possible. The 23 SENATE RESOLUTION 8605 By Senators Nobles, Bateman, Boehnke, Braun, Chapman, Christian, Cleveland, Conway, Cortes, Dhingra, Frame, Gildon, Goehner, Hansen, Harris, Hasegawa, Holy, Kauffman, King, Krishnadasan, Liias, Lovelett, Lovick, MacEwen, McCune, Muzzall, Orwall, Pedersen, Ramos, Riccelli, Robinson, Saldaña, Schoesler, Shewmake, Short, Slatter, Stanford, Torres, Trudeau, Valdez, Wagoner, Warnick, and J. Wilson p. 1 8605 holiday was further embraced nationwide when recognized by all 1 50 states 17 years later, highlighting a shared commitment to 2 honoring Dr. King's impact; and 3 WHEREAS, Observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day inspires 4 reflection on the strides we have made toward equality and 5 renews our commitment to creating a society that values justice 6 and opportunity for everyone; and 7 WHEREAS, Washington state continues to champion the 8 principles Dr. King fought for, striving to build communities 9 where equity, inclusion, and human dignity prevail;10 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate 11 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by recognizing his transformative 12 contributions to the civil rights movement and his powerful 13 message of equality, justice, and hope; and 14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate urge all 15 Washingtonians to honor Dr. King by taking actionable steps to 16 address inequality, foster unity, and build a future where 17 everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 18 I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 19 do hereby certify that this is a true and 20 correct copy of Senate Resolution 8605, 21 adopted by the Senate 22 January 20, 2025 23 SARAH BANNISTER 24 Secretary of the Senate 25 p. 2 8605