[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 798 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 798

 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin 
         Luther King, Jr., through the teaching of nonviolence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 22, 2018

 Mr. Capuano submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin 
         Luther King, Jr., through the teaching of nonviolence.

Whereas, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in his 
        hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee;
Whereas Dr. King helped our Nation understand what it means to love our 
        neighbor, no matter the color of his or her skin;
Whereas Dr. King taught our Nation to recognize the evils of racism that 
        persisted in our laws and practices more than one hundred years after 
        the abolition of slavery;
Whereas Dr. King sought to achieve justice and reconciliation through peaceful 
        means and inspired millions of others to do so also, earning him the 
        1964 Nobel Peace Prize;
Whereas in his book, ``Stride Toward Freedom'', Dr. King espoused six principles 
        of nonviolence--

    (1) nonviolence ``is not a method for cowards; it does resist'';

    (2) nonviolence ``does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, 
but to win his friendship and understanding'';

    (3) nonviolence ``is directed against the forces of evil rather than 
against persons who happen to be doing the evil'';

    (4) nonviolence ``is a willingness to accept suffering without 
retaliation'';

    (5) nonviolence ``avoids not only external physical violence but also 
internal violence of the spirit''; and

    (6) nonviolence ``is based on the conviction that the universe is on 
the side of justice'';

Whereas Dr. King's efforts and leadership helped bring about the Civil Rights 
        Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and just days after his 
        death, the Civil Rights Act of 1968, some of the most significant 
        legislation ever passed by Congress;
Whereas, in 1986, a Federal holiday was established in Dr. King's honor, and is 
        now celebrated in many cities across the United States as a day for 
        volunteer service;
Whereas Dr. King's memory is cherished along with other great preachers of 
        nonviolence, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, and a statue in his 
        honor was placed among the Christian Martyrs of the Twentieth Century in 
        Westminster Abbey;
Whereas half a century after his death, the United States has made progress on 
        the racial issues Dr. King dedicated his life to, but much more work 
        must be done; and
Whereas no assassin could silence him, because his words and his example will 
        live as long as free men and women remember him: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the lessons Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
        sought to leave with us, both in his life and his death, that 
        nonviolent action can be an important force for social and 
        political change;
            (2) recognizes the importance of teaching the next 
        generation the importance of exercising their constitutional 
        rights to free speech, assembly, and association; and
            (3) encourages all States and local school districts to 
        incorporate into their educational curriculum the study of 
        nonviolence into the teaching of history and civics, in the 
        context of both United States and global history.
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