Attorney General Jerry Brown Honored for Passage of State Day of Remembrance for Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thursday, January 15, 2009
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

(Sacramento) -- Attorney General Jerry Brown was today awarded the “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award” by the Legislative Black Caucus for his work in making Dr. King’s birthday an official day of remembrance in California.

“Today we recognize the unparalleled legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr, who continues to inspire hope and action in the struggle for equal rights,” Attorney General Brown said. “We must follow his lead and address the problems that we continue to face today.’

Also honored were former Senate President Pro Tempore David Roberti, who served as the leader of the Senate, Chancellor Harris, who as a Member of the Assembly authored the legislation, former Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., who was Speaker of the Assembly at the time, the California State Conference NAACP, which marshaled grass roots support for the bill, and Oakland Technical High School, which sponsored the bill.

The day began with a special breakfast reception, where honorees received commemorative plaques, and spoke briefly on the work they did. The state Assembly also held a special ceremony on the Assembly Floor, with honorees receiving resolutions of recognition.

The bill officially honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was Assembly Bill 312, which was signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown on September 3, 1981.

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