A concurrent resolution honoring and remembering the life of Lawrence "Larry" King.

Whereas Larry King was a 15-year-old boy from Oxnard, California who was shot by a fellow student during English class on February 12, 2008, and died in the hospital 2 days later;

Whereas the police classified the murder as a hate crime;

Whereas in 2008, more than 150 vigils were held across the Nation in Larry’s memory, and more than 18,000 students from more than 6,500 middle and high schools came together to commemorate his death;

Whereas one year later, vigils continue to be organized to call for an end to violence, bullying, and harassment in schools in the United States;

Whereas in 2007, 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students were verbally harassed at school because of their sexual orientation, and more than 20 percent of those students were physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation;

Whereas the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s 2007 National School Climate Survey showed that when students are harassed or assaulted at school, they find it difficult to focus on their school work, their grades drop, and they attend school less often; and

Whereas schools should be a place where all children can learn and grow in a safe environment, free from bullying and harassment: Now, therefore, be it