State of New Jersey
Executive Order #2

Governor Jon S. Corzine

WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King spent a full and productive life as a wife, mother, musician, author and leader for fundamental social change on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey, the country and the world are better today because of her commitment to social justice and non-violence; and

WHEREAS, Coretta Scott King grew up in Perry County, Alabama, and was the first African American scholarship student to major in education at Antioch College in Ohio; and

WHEREAS, she met and married Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while studying music as a scholarship student in Boston; and

WHEREAS, as the young wife of a minister, she lived at the center of historic social change throughout this country; and

WHEREAS, with her husband, she was a leader in the non-violent civil rights movement; and

WHEREAS, following Dr. King's assassination in 1968, she became an international leader in her own right, advocating for peace, justice and equality, while continuing to raise four young children; and

WHEREAS, as a board member of the National Organization of Women and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, she advanced human rights both at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, she struggled against apartheid in South Africa, against poverty in South America and against AIDS and gun violence in this country; and

WHEREAS, she led the effort to designate a national holiday in memory of her husband Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to establish the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, those efforts will help make the King family's legacy of courage, non-violence and sense of justice endure long after her passing; and

WHEREAS, her leadership in support of civil rights, employment opportunity and equality has been a strong and steady beacon for non-violent social change throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that we celebrate the life of Coretta Scott King, mourn her passing and extend our sincere sympathy to her family and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to honor the memory and the passing of Coretta Scott King;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Friday, February 3, 2006, in recognition and mourning of the passing of Coretta Scott King.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 1st day
of February, Two Thousand and Six, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirtieth.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Stuart Rabner

Chief Counsel to the Governor