The Speaker, on behalf of the entire House of Representatives, offered the following resolution

House Resolution No. 216.

A resolution to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her dedication and service to the civil rights movement.

            Whereas, It is with great pride that we commemorate the life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and service to this great country.  She is globally acknowledged as a pioneer of civil rights. Long before she met and married Martin Luther King, Jr., she was an activist for equality and justice for all people; and

            Whereas, She is lovingly described as a “Matriarch of the Civil Rights Movement,” a patriot of all that America stands for; she stood for peace in the midst of turmoil; and

            Whereas, She touched many lives with her dedicated efforts to the civil rights movement and through the legacy of her husband, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her memory lives in the hearts of many, and gives hope to those who are still struggling  in this difficult world; and

            Whereas,  She became the first woman to deliver the Class Day address at Harvard university, and the first woman to preach at a statutory service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.  She served as a Women’s Strike for Peace delegate to the 17-nation Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland in 1962 and became a liaison to international peace and justice with several national and international organizations; and

            Whereas, Mrs. King continued to carry on the work of Dr. King; in 1968, after his death, she founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.  It was created to advance the cause of civil rights.  The center encourages the advancement and development of non-violent movements for justice, equality, and peace.  The center receives thousands of visitors each year and educates individuals on Dr. King’s great contributions to this nation and encourages them to reflect his teachings; and

            Whereas,  Mrs. King maintained her husband’s commitment to the cause of economic justice. In 1974, she formed the Full Employment Action Council, a broad coalition of over 100 religious, labor, business, civil, and women’s rights organizations dedicated to a national policy of full employment and equal economic opportunity; and

            Whereas, Mrs. Coretta Scott King led the successful campaign to establish Dr. King’s birthday, January 15, as a national holiday in the United States.  By an Act of Congress, the first national observance of the holiday took place in 1986; and

            Whereas, Mrs. King embraced the belief that when you are willing to make sacrifices for a great cause, you will never be alone; and

            Whereas, Mrs. Coretta Scott King continued to serve the cause of social justice and human rights until her death in 2006. She wanted to improve the lives of individuals throughout the world.  Her morals and understanding of the importance of ending racism and injustice continues to shape the future of our great nation and remains an inspiration to men and women around the world.  She encouraged America to stand for its founding ideas and spread that message to the entire world; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body honor the life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King.