Whereas, On June 23, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led 125,000 people down Woodward Avenue in a Walk to Freedom with their voices joined together in a chorus for change; and,

Whereas, The Detroit Branch of the NAACP was founded in 1912 and today remains the largest Branch of the organization; it has maintained a commitment to promoting equality, pride and justice in the Detroit community; and,

Whereas, Forty years after the first Walk to Freedom, the Detroit Branch of the NAACP and members of labor, faith-based, community, student and grassroots organizations will hold a Commemorative March in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the original Walk to Freedom; and,

Whereas, This Commemorative March recognizes Dr. King’s contributions and the progress we have made, while symbolizing the continuing need for people of all races and backgrounds to work to make the State of Michigan a better place to live; and now therefore be it

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 27 and June 28, 2003, as the Walk for Freedom Weekend in the State of Michigan, and encourage all citizens to join with the Detroit Branch of the NAACP in their efforts to build One Michigan.