Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of establishing equality and justice for all helped advance our Nation and redirect the conversation about race for generations of Americans; and

WHEREAS, born during a time of heightened racial discrimination and oppression in America, Dr. King excelled in his studies, obtained his doctorate in theology, and served throughout his lifetime as a pastor and peaceful activist; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's natural leadership and speaking skills made him a commanding voice for America's civil rights movement as he brought to light the needs of the poor and championed nonviolence as an effective means to bring forth positive social change; and

WHEREAS, working alongside people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, Dr. King encouraged Americans to come together to strengthen communities and empower the impoverished. From his example, Americans learned the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, and service; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's efforts were instrumental in strengthening the belief that a person should be judged by their character, not by the color of their skin, and he encouraged Americans to honor all persons, look beyond their differences, and come together for the common good; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King dedicated his life to empowering people, no matter their circumstances, and challenged them to lift up their neighbors and communities, refusing to rest until our Nation fulfilled its pledge of liberty and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, although great progress has been made, more work remains to fully eliminate prejudice and injustice throughout our Country. In the words of Dr. King, "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2025 as:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to reflect on and reaffirm their commitment to Dr. King's vision of equality, human rights, and dignity for all individuals.

Dated: January 20, 2025