By unanimous vote, the Chelsea City Council passed a Resolution brought forward by Council President Leo Robinson. The measure honors the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and designates Monday, January 16, 2017 as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day throughout Chelsea.
The full text of the Resolution appears below:
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who passed away, demonstrated extraordinary courage and vision, earning recognition as a principal figure in America’s Civil Rights Movement and working to secure voting rights for African American citizens; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King’s life ended violently when an assassin took his life in Memphis, Tennessee during April 1968, a time when he was advocating for economically disadvantaged workers; and
WHEREAS, numerous committed individuals have worked to ensure Dr. King receives appropriate national acknowledgment, resulting in the designation of the third Monday each January as a national observance to celebrate Dr. King’s contributions, his enduring impact, and the principles for which he sacrificed his life; and
WHEREAS, Massachusetts was fortunate to host Dr. King during his years of education and residence in Boston, where he attended Boston University School of Divinity and earned his PhD in 1953; and
WHEREAS, Dr. King’s example continues to inspire those facing hardship and serves as a model for individuals committed to human dignity across all lines of race, creed, socioeconomic status, and national origin; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, a retired physician, will deliver the keynote address at the Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, and the City Council expresses appreciation to CHS REACH, Chelsea Public Schools, Chelsea Black Community, and the People’s A.M.E. Church for their support of the MLK Breakfast; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Chelsea City Council officially recognizes January 16, 2017 as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Chelsea and encourages all residents to contemplate the profound significance of this remarkable individual’s contributions.