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Congressional Gold Medal Nominees Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
and Coretta Scott King Congressional Record
108th Congress
First Session Friday, June 27, 2003 Legislation to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King with Congressional Gold Medal for indent & between paragraphs------> Mr. President, joined by a number of my colleagues in the Senate, I am today introducing legislation that will authorize the President to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., posthumously, and his widow, Coretta Scott King, in recognition of their countless contributions to the nation as leaders of the civil rights movement. A companion bill is being introduced in the House by Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. This medal is one small way for Congress to recognize and honor this couple's distinguished record of public service, sacrifice, and commitment to protect the dignity of a people and awaken the conscience of a country.
Dr. King embraced all Americans in his quest to make a living reality of equality of opportunity and economic and social justice for all humankind, those fundamental principles in our
Constitution. The vision of equality which guided his life and contributed to his death is indelibly woven into the fabric and history of our nation. This medal will pay tribute to Dr. King's many great accomplishments: from his courageous application of the doctrine of nonviolent civil disobedience to combat segregation to his leadership in the Montgomery bus boycott, from his efforts on behalf of
1964 Civil Rights Act and
1965 Voting Rights Act to his soaring speeches that inspired a nation to action. For these and for all his other contributions, Dr. King deserves our highest honor.
Mrs. Correta Scott King joined her husband in his lifework and has continued his legacy to this day. Like Dr. King, Mrs. King was a leader in our country's civil rights movement, striving through nonviolent means to promote social change and attain full civil rights for African-Americans and other discriminated people. Mrs. King worked to preserve Dr. King's memory and ideals by, among other things, developing and building the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, establishing the "Freedom Concerts" organization to increase awareness of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and leading a campaign to recognize Dr. King's birthday as a national holiday. Mrs. King's continuing contributions to our nation also merit her receipt of this award.
Mr. President, here in America we have come a long way towards achieving Dr. King's dream of liberty, justice and equality for all. But we still have work to do. Let us rededicate ourselves to continuing the struggle that he died for and that Mrs. King continues to work for. The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting tribute to these two heroes who tirelessly fought to create a united America. I hope that my colleagues will join Senators Warner, Biden, Hollings, Bingaman, Stabenow, Kennedy, Pryor, Landrieu, Clinton, Milkulski, Durbin, Dodd, Lieberman, and me in commemorating the efforts of the late Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his widow, Coretta Scott King by supporting this legislation. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 27, 2003 CONTACT: Press Office
http://levin.senate.gov
202-228-3685
Levin Introduces Legislation to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King and
Coretta Scott King with Congressional Gold Medal
WASHINGTON Citing their contributions to the nation on behalf of the civil rights movement,
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., (posthumously) and his widow Coretta Scott King.
Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, joined Levin in introducing the bipartisan legislation. "Dr. King embraced all
Americans in his quest to make a living reality of equality of opportunity and economic and social justice for all humankind, those fundamental principles in our
Constitution," said Levin. "Coretta Scott King joined her husband in his lifework and has continued his legacy to this day." The legislation, S. 1368, lists several accomplishments of Dr. and Mrs. King including: their role as the first family of the civil rights movement; Dr. King's doctrine of nonviolent civil disobedience to combat segregation; Dr. King's leadership of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott to protest the arrest of
Rosa Parks and the segregation of the bus system; Dr. King's "
I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. in August 1963; Dr. King's efforts on behalf of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the
Voting Rights Act of 1965; Mrs. King's partnership with her husband in working for nonviolent social change and full civil rights for
African Americans; Mrs. King's organization of "Freedom Concerts," which increased awareness of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and Mrs. King's dedication to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta.
Dr. King gave a number of
famous speeches during his time, most notably in Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. On June 23, 1963, Dr. King spoke to a crowd of more than 125,000 at the Walk to Freedom in Detroit and told the marchers, "I can assure you that what has been done here today will serve as a source of inspiration for all of the freedom-loving people of this nation." The Freedom Walk in Detroit foreshadowed the upcoming March on Washington and Dr. King's "
I Have a Dream" speech two months later on August 28, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. In his Detroit speech, Dr. King spoke of having a "dream deeply rooted in the American dream," where black and white children "will be able to join hands as brothers and sisters," and where "my four little children will . . . be judged on the basis of the content of their character, not the color of their skin."
Congress recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals through the commissioning of Congressional Gold Medals. Since 1776, approximately 300 people and the American Red Cross have received this honor. Awardees include individuals from diverse backgrounds including the military, arts, athletics, aviation, exploration, politics, religion, medicine, science, and entertainment.
Robert F. Kennedy,
Gerald and Betty Ford,
Mother Teresa, and
Nelson Mandela are Congressional Gold Medal Recipients
. Civil rights worker Roy Wilkins, the
Little Rock Nine, the nine students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, and
Rosa Parks have also been honored with Congressional Gold Medals. Congressman John Lewis, D-Georgia, will introduce identical legislation in the House of Representatives. # # # Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King October 25 , 2004 P.L. 108-368, 118 Stat. 1746-1748 King, Martin Luther, Jr., clergyman, civil rights leader; b. Atlanta, Jan. 15, 1929; s. Martin Luther and Alberta (Williams) K.; A.B. Morehouse Coll, 1948, L.H.D., 1957; B.D., Crozer Theol. Sem., 1951; Ph.D. (J. Louis Crozer fellow), Boston U., 1955, D.D., 1959; D.D., Chgo, Theol. Sem., 1957; LL.D., Howard U., 1957, Morgan State College, 1958; L.H.D., Central State College, 1958; special student University of Pennsylvania, dept. philosophy Harvard; m.
Coretta Scott, June 17, 1953; children - Yolanda Denise, Dexter Scott, Bernise Albertina, Martin Luther III. Pastor Dexter Ave. Bapt. Ch., Montgomery, AL; pres. So. Christian Leadership Conf.; v.p. Nat. Sunday Sch. and Bapt. Tng. Union Congress of Nat. Baptist Convention, Incorporated. Pres. Montgomery Improvement Assn. Recipient Pearl Plafkner award for scholarship Crozer Theol. Sem., Chester, PA, 1951; selected one of 10 outstanding personalities of 1956, Time mag., 1957; recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, 1964; also numerous awards for leadership Montgomery Movement. Mem. N.A.A.C.P., Alpha Phi Alpha, Sigma Pi Phi, Elk. Author: Stride Toward Freedom, 1958. Contributor articles popular and religious periodicals. Crusader for civil rights, peace, and non-violence. Assassinated Memphis, TN Apr. 4, 1968; a martyr. Interment Atlanta, GA.
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