2006 Compilation Presidential Documents P ROC LAMATI ON S Proclamation 7973 of January 13, 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2006 By the President of the United States o/America A Proclamation As we observe the 20th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we reflect on the history of civil rights in America and honor Dr. King for the power of his intellect, the truth of his words, and the example of his courage. Dr. King created a powerful and enduring legacy for all Americans by calling upon our Nation to ensure equal iustice under law and uphold our founding ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi- ness for all people. Dr. King became an active leader in the civil rights movement in the 1950s, strengthened in his resolve by the quiet courage of Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus. He advocated non-violent action as a means to overcome the evil of racism in America, and he led the effort that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dr. King later said that the legislation was the work of every citizen who took to the streets and marched for iustice and equality. The Voting Rights Act, which became law the next year, guaranteed all citizens the right to vote, regardless of race, and helped our country realize the promise of the 15th Amendment to our Constitution. Dr. King believed that all people are made in God's image and created equal. He dedicated his life to empowering people, no matter their cir- cumstances, and challenged them to lift up their neighbors and commu- nities. He broke down barriers within our society by encouraging Ameri- cans to look past their differences and refused to rest until our Nation ful- filled its pledge of liberty and iustice for all. 1
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