WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born on January 15, 1929, dedicated his life to promoting peace, freedom, equality, and justice for all through non-violent means; and WHEREAS, Dr. King embraced the practice of non-violent civil disobedience, as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi, as an effective means of exposing and overcoming institutional racism, prejudice and injustice; and WHEREAS, Dr. King, by his vision, intellect, electrifying oratorical skill, and selfless dedication to fairness, freedom, and justice for all, soon rose to leadership in the Civil Rights Movement; and WHEREAS, the name of Dr. King is synonymous with the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, his receipt of the Noble Peace Prize in 1964, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War, the Poor People’s Campaign for economic justice of 1968, and many more milestones in the struggle for freedom and equality; and WHEREAS, Dr. King’s message evolved over time from one of the basic civil rights of voting and desegregation to embrace labor rights, economic and social justice, and peace and dignity for all; and WHEREAS, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, and after fifteen years of advocacy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 and first celebrated as a federal holiday in 1986, but was not officially observed in all 50 states until the year 2000; and WHEREAS, Dr. King’s teachings can continue to guide and inspire us in addressing challenges in our communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby proclaim January 15, 2023, as Martin Luther King Jr Day in the City of Costa Mesa. I encourage everyone to fight racism, hatred, intolerance, and ignorance and to uphold freedom, equality, and justice for all.
DATED this 17th day of January, 2023.
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John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa