Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 297: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission

Date: 01/18/1991
Issuer: William F. Weld
Mass Register: No. 653

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and committed his life to the advancement of equality and justice among all citizens of this nation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King, through his efforts, called on each of us to work for racial equality and non-violent social change; and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther King, Jr. called on each of us to emphasize what was good and right about America, what was noblest and best; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King became one of the youngest men in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize; and

WHEREAS, our nation and our commonwealth honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by setting aside a day each year to remember him and the extraordinary work he did in the area of civil rights;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

Section 1. A commission is hereby established which shall be known as the "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission".

Section 2. The Commission shall be composed of no more than fifteen members, nine of which shall be appointed by the Governor, three of which shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and three of which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of which shall be a member of the Black Legislative Caucus.

Section 3. The Governor shall designate one member of the Commission as chair, and at least one member as vice chair.

Section 4. The Commission shall meet at the call of the chair.

Section 5. The Commission shall have the following duties:

(a) To work to promote among the citizens of the Commonwealth an awareness and appreciation of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(b) To encourage appropriate ceremonies and activities throughout the Commonwealth to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(c) To submit, no later than September first, annually, to the Governor a report recommending proposals for the official State celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the following January.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 18th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-one.

William F. Weld, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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