WHEREAS, in the fall of 1983, former Fres no City Councilmember Les Kimber, through Bill 195 and Ordinance 85-187, creat ed the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee and declared the third Monday in January, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day making the city one of the first cities in the nation to observe Dr. King’s birthday as a holiday; and
WHEREAS, the first Unity Committee include d Les Kimber, Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, Dan Pessano, Karen Humphrey, Rev. Walt Perry, Mary Curry, Woody Miller, Dr. Joseph Sacks, Dr. Thomas Russell, Shirley Rowe, Art Dyson, Rev.
Chester Riggins, Ernie Shelton, Dr. James Aldrege, Ben Benavidez, Jackie Church, Ruth Cooper, Lindell Cross, Rutherford Gaston, Dr. Robert S. Mikell, Ray Johnson, and various other community members; and
WHEREAS, the Unity Committee, tasked wi th organizing a community-wide celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy, held the first 4-day celebration in January of 1984. The events included a community march, a commemoration program, and a food drive. Since then, the events ha ve expanded to include a community breakfast, a candlelight vigil, a student sp eech, art, and essay contest, a garlanding ceremony, and an awards community reception; and
WHEREAS, the Unity Committee has been a vital force since its inception and is proud of its 40 years of service to the Fresno community. The Unity Committee ensures that Dr. King’s timeless values of truth, justice, compassion, courage, dignity, humility, and community service ar e commemorated each year during his birthday.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that we Mayor Jerry Dyer and the
Fresno City Council do hereby proclaim January 11th, 2024, to be:
"Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Committee Day” in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the Great Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 7th day of December 2023.