CLINTON PROCLAMATION ON DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

[USIA]

USIS Washington File

16 January 1998

TEXT: CLINTON PROCLAMATION ON DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

(Much to do if we are to finish the work of Dr. King) (770)

Washington -- President Clinton, in proclaiming January 19 to be a
federal holiday in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. noted
that almost 35 years "have passed since Dr. King challenged us from
the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to live out the true meaning of our
creed -- that all men are created equal -- and almost 30 years have
passed since he was taken from us after an all-too-brief sojourn on
this earth.

"A generation of young Americans has come of age without experiencing
firsthand the power of his vision or the eloquence of his voice,"
Clinton said. "Much has changed for the better in that time, but we
still have much to do if we are to finish the work of Martin Luther
King, Jr."

Following is the White House text:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

January 16, 1998

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., FEDERAL HOLIDAY, 1998

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

America has been blessed with heroes throughout our history, men and
women of vision and courage who have set our feet firmly on the path
of freedom and equality. Some became heroes by leading us in times of
struggle; some by shaping our values and challenging us to greatness.
And a few, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., have done all this and
more.

A thoughtful man and one of deep personal faith, his conscience called
him into action for the soul of our nation. He mobilized thousands of
other brave and principled Americans -- black and white, renowned and
unknown -- and began a crusade for justice that continues today. In
sit-ins, marches, demonstrations, and boycotts, he and many others met
violence with nonviolence and ignorance with determination. They
awakened the conscience of our nation and succeeded in winning passage
of historic civil rights legislation: the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Pouring out his life in service, Dr. King made enormous and lasting
contributions to improve the lives of millions of his fellow
Americans.

Almost 35 years have passed since Dr. King challenged us from the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial to live out the true meaning of our
creed -- that all men are created equal -- and almost 30 years have
passed since he was taken from us after an all-too-brief sojourn on
this earth. A generation of young Americans has come of age without
experiencing firsthand the power of his vision or the eloquence of his
voice. Much has changed for the better in that time, but we still have
much to do if we are to finish the work of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Following his example of service, we must build communities where
everyone shares an equal opportunity for a good education and a good
job, where our children can grow up without living in the shadow of
guns, gangs and drugs, and where we reject separation and isolation
and instead celebrate together the blessing of our diversity. Last
June, I established my initiative, "One America in the 21st Century,"
to encourage a national dialogue among Americans about race and to
spur concerted action that will bring Americans together. We must put
aside the bitter refrains of accusation and recrimination and instead
discuss and implement new ideas for forging a single nation in the
21st Century out of our ever-increasing racial and ethnic diversity.
By learning to talk to one another, to trust one another, and to work
together in hope, we can and will come to the time Dr. King foresaw
when "justice rolls down like waters."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Monday,
January 19, 1998, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I
call upon the people of the United States to observe this occasion
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities and to
participate in the many community service activities taking place
across the country on this day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-eight,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-second.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

(end text)