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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Grand Prairie gather each year on |
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day to celebrate the important legacy of the |
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civil rights leader at a parade sponsored by the Grand Prairie |
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NAACP, the City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation |
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Department, and the Grand Prairie Police Department; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1983, the King Holiday Bill was signed into law, |
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making the third Monday in January a federal holiday; the |
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observance later became the only federal holiday also designated as |
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a national day of service with the signing of legislation to |
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encourage Americans to follow Dr. King's example by working |
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together to improve their communities; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of a Baptist minister, Martin Luther |
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King Jr. earned his doctoral degree in theology; in 1955, he |
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organized the Montgomery bus boycott, the first major protest of |
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the civil rights movement, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly to |
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the cause; he led marches across the South to direct America's |
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attention to injustice and oppression, and although physical |
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attacks were a constant threat, he upheld the powerful principle of |
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nonviolent civil disobedience; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. King's soaring oratory inspired people across |
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the country, and in 1963, at the massive March on Washington, he |
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delivered an address for the ages, outlining his vision of a better |
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America as the words "I have a dream" rang out over the crowd and |
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into history; the following year brought the ratification of the |
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24th Amendment, which abolished the poll tax, and the Civil Rights |
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Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination in employment and |
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education and outlawed segregation in public facilities; that |
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October, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; and |
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WHEREAS, In observing this holiday, we focus not only on the |
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legacy of Dr. King, but also on the need to continue his work in |
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behalf of justice, peace, and equal rights for all; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the annual |
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Grand Prairie Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade and extend to the |
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organizers and participants sincere appreciation for their |
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contributions. |