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Page 1 of 1 Ogden City Council Meeting: December 20, 2016 JOINT PROCLAMATION DECLARING JANUARY 16, 2017 AS “MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY OF SERVICE” IN OGDEN CITY Action: Adopt joint proclamation Summary This joint proclamation recognizes the significance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and encourages residents to celebrate this as a day of community service. This item will be read and presented at the annual NAACP/WSU Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event that will be held at the Marshall White Center on January 16, 2017. Council Staff Contact: Brittany Griffin, (801)629-8103 ---PAGE BREAK--- A JOINT PROCLAMATION OF THEOGDEN CITY C DECLARING JANUARY 16, 2017 “MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE” IN OGDEN CITY WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American pastor, activist, and humanitarian who is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965. Dr. King also focused on issues including poverty and war. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal; and WHEREAS President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law in 1983 making the third Monday in January a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Dr. King, following years of lobbying by millions of Americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was first observed in 1986; and WHEREAS, In 1988, close friends of Dr. King discussed the irony of how so many Americans had fought for a federal holiday honoring Dr. King, yet it had become just another day off of work. They knew Dr. King would be disheartened by the disengagement on the day set aside to honor his devotion to social justice, so the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was established in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 challenging all Americans to honor Dr. King by devoting the day to citizen action and volunteer service. Several communities, universities, and organizations across the United States have accepted the challenge and participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service; and WHEREAS, The Ogden Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Ogden/Weber Community Action Partnership, Marshall White Community Center, and Weber State University have united to sustain the national call to action by honoring Dr. King through “A Day of Service” with volunteers from cities throughout Weber County and Davis County. Events will commence with the Martin Luther King Freedom Breakfast and March at the Marshall White Center. Through this day of remembrance, we strive as a community to retain Dr. King’s legacy of service. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ogden City Council and Mayor Michael P. Caldwell hereby proclaim January 16, 2017: “MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE” in Ogden City. We encourage residents, schools, businesses, and community groups to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We appreciate the efforts of those in our community to build upon Dr. King’s legacy by helping others and encourage all residents to engage in service on this special holiday. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of January 2017. Marcia L. White, Council Chair Michael P. Caldwell, Mayor ATTEST: Tracy Hansen, City Recorder