Governor Proclaims Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 as MLK Day of Service in Washington

OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed Monday, Jan. 16 as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in the state of Washington. 

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service that encourages people across America to volunteer to improve their communities.

Read the text of the proclamation below:

The State of Washington Proclamation

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is considered one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. Born, January 15, 1929, King attended segregated public schools in the state of Georgia, entered Morehouse College at age 15 earning B. A. and doctorate degrees; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King advocated and organized the use of non-violent disobedience techniques to combat institutional racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement through the United States, leading protests and demonstrations; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King traveled over six million miles speaking over 2,500 times including his trip to Seattle in 1961, delivering his message entitled “Segregation and the Civil Liberties: Implications for Students” to more than 2,000 people at the University of Washington campus, Temple de Hirsch and Garfield High School; and

WHEREAS, many of his speeches were improvised including his most well-known “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The next year, at age 35, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and;

WHEREAS, the third Monday of January is designated a federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday; and

WHEREAS, during his travels abroad, he used the Black freedom struggle as a message of hope to those enduring repression everywhere. A leader in the struggle against racism, poverty, colonialism and imperialism, his vision remains largely unrealized, but Dr. King’s words and actions continue to have a most profound effect on the global consciousness; and

WHEREAS, each of us can contribute to strengthening our own communities and help realize Dr. King’s dream by serving others on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday; and

WHEREAS, we all must carry forward Dr. King’s powerful message because of hope for a safe and livable world requires we overcome discrimination and commit ourselves to service; and

Now therefore, I Jay Inslee, governor of the state of Washington, do hereby claim Monday, January 15, 2024 as Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Day in Washington, and I urge all people in our state to join me in this special observance.

Signed this 8th day of January, 2024.

Governor Jay Inslee