Posted on 02/28/2006 5:03:53 AM PST by far sider
Twenty years after the King County Council renamed the county for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the council voted today to change the county logo from a crown to a likeness of the slain civil rights leader.
More than 200 supporters of the ordinance responded to the roll-call vote by jumping to their feet, cheering, beating Native American drums and singing, "We Shall Overcome."
"Symbols are very important. This is going to be a powerful one for us here in this county," Councilman Larry Gossett, D-Seattle, prime sponsor of the ordinance, declared after the vote.
Gossett said a new logo was the next logical step following the council's decision in 1986 to change the county namesake from former U.S. Vice President and slave owner William Rufus DeVane King to Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr.
Council Chairman Larry Phillips, D-Seattle, said the county's current crown logo is an inappropriate "symbol of monarchy and royalty."
The ordinance passed 7-2, with Republicans Jane Hague of Bellevue and Kathy Lambert of Woodinville voting no because of concerns that the county could be liable to royalty claims from King's estate if it uses the logo in any commercial ventures.
The ordinance declares the county "does not intend to seek commercial profit" from use of the logo and acknowledges the King family's interest in collecting royalties from commercial uses of his image.
A new logo will be designed by County Executive Ron Sims and sent to the County Council for its approval.
County budget director Bob Cowan estimates it will cost the county $522,255 over five years to change the logo on cars, buildings, stationery and other places. In most cases, the new logo will be phased in as old supplies are used up, but law enforcement officers' uniforms and cars will be changed on a faster schedule so they are easily identifiable to the public.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
Just for fun I googled the actual ordinance "renaming" the county for King County to King County.
INTRODUCED BY: RON SIMS, BRUCE LAING
PROPOSED NO.: 86-66
MOTION NO. 6461
A MOTION setting forth the historical basis for "renaming" King County after the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., instead of William Rufus DeVane King for whom King County is currently named.
WHEREAS, the County of King in the State of Washington was named after William Rufus Devane King by the Oregon Territorial legislature in 1852, and
WHEREAS, William Rufus DeVane King was a slaveowner and a 'gentle slave monger' according to John Quincy Adams, and
WHEREAS, the citizens of King County believe that the ownership of another human being is an injustice against humanity, and
WHEREAS, William Rufus DeVane King earned income and maintained his lifestyle by oppressing and exploiting other human beings, and
WHEREAS, the citizens of King County cherish and uphold the constitutional tenent of the 'unmitigated pursuit' of life, liberty, and happiness for which many citizens of this county have given their lives as a supreme sacrifice to defend these foundations of freedom, and
WHEREAS, the citizens of King County through their various faiths uphold the principle that all mankind was created equal, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that liberty, justice and freedom were the 'inalienable rights' of all men, women and children, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a spiritual man who believed all people were created equal in the sight of God, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in the dignity and self-worth of every individual, and subsequently, gave his life defending his beliefs, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a recipient of the Nobel Prize became a national hero whose birthday has been declared a national holiday by his nation's government to be a day of peace, love and understanding, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through his persistent and unfailing efforts prompted passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, both of which have benefited all citizens of this nation, and
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired people and nations world-wide to strive in a non-violent manner for the human rights, civil liberties, and economic guarantees rightfully due people of all races;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County: The King County Council, hereby, sets forth the historical basis for the "renaming" of King County in honor of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man whose contributions are well-documented and celebrated by millions throughout this nation and the world, and embody the attributes for which the citizens of King County can be proud, and claim as their own.
BE IT FURTHER MOVED,
King County shall be named after the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
PASSED this 24th day of February, 1986.
KING COUNTY COUNCIL
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
(signed by) Audrey Gruger,Chair
ATTEST:
(signed by) Dorothy M. Owens, Clerk of the Council
Updated: Sept. 23, 1999
They better research this one REAL good before spending a penny on new copy.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Somebody just crush us with a big rock. Washington is simply infested with Seattle.
While they're at it, I think they should rename their state after Denzel Washington. After all, George had slaves and Denzel probably wouldn't want any money out of it.
Were the citizens allowed to vote on this thing??
Is there anyone of any standing that could have had more relevance to King County?
If they want to honor MLK they should change the national holiday to "Civil Rights Day" instead of "Martin Luther King Day" to ensure that what he stood for is remembered. After all he was only one of many who affected this change. What the county is actually proposing is silly and wasteful!
far sider,you forgot the usual **expert** witnesses with emotional testimony to sway the council with claims of inclusivity...
Signed, upset, but not surprised.
- - -
"Dr. King's image makes me think of all God's children living together regardless of race, religion or income," Zion Preparatory Academy **third-grader** Eryn Wells told the council.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002833481_mlk28m.html
I nominate Gene Washington; at least he could catch a freakin' pass!
I confess, I thought this was pure satire....
lol. Was little Eryn one of the tom-tom beaters?
Wow, looks like there is homophobia up there in Seattle. Don't they know that Vice-President King was the first gay to serve in the Executive branch of the federal government ? King was the long-time lover of future President James Buchanan. Surely the gay-rights lobby should be up in arms over this attempt to remove the namesake of King County !
They finally settled on changing the state logo to a picture of George Washington Carver.
The most disturbing thing is how commonplace it has become to judge historical figures based on contemporary morals. The ordinance goes to great lengths to denigrate William Rufus Devane King based on the fact that he was a slaveholder, even though he lived during a time when owning a slave was even more acceptable than having an abortion is now.
Great piece of trivia. It explains a lot about Seattle.
Of course, this is outrageously gender biased...here in Sodom on the Subway, we have a Kings County AND a Queens County...
Don King?
Burger King?
King Creole?
King Kong?
King, Dog of the North?
King, of the Khyber Rifles?
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