RESOLUTION NO. RS2008-334

A resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to rename Spring Street “Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard”.

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929-1968), a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, lived his life promoting peace, freedom, equality, and justice for all through non-violent means; and

WHEREAS, in 1964, Dr. King became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King organized and led marches for desegregation, labor rights and the right for African Americans to vote, which efforts were largely successful with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech during the march on Washington is recognized as one of the finest speeches in the history of American oratory, and served to further propel the success of the Civil Rights Movement; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968 on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, while there to support the Black sanitary public works employees; and

WHEREAS, Nashville, Tennessee is one of the few urban southern cities without a thoroughfare named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Spring Street on the east side of the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville is part of State Route 11; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that this portion of State Route 11 be named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his outstanding contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to rename Spring Street “Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard”.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Pam Murray

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Public Works Committee
Introduced:	June 3, 2008
Deferred:	June 3, 2008
Adopted:	June 17, 2008
Approved:	June 23, 2008
By: