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A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 19, 2026 AS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY AND THE NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA AND COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING RETIRED JUDGE JAMES E. GREEN FOR HIS LEGACY OF SERVICE AND JUSTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO
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WHEREAS, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a federal holiday on November 2, 1983, to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is observed annually on the third Monday of January, commemorating the birthday of Dr. King, a transformative civil rights leader who championed nonviolence and anti-poverty activism as part of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s until his tragic assassination on April 4, 1968; and
WHEREAS, The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King and led by Dr. Bernice A. King, has proclaimed the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day theme as, “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way” reaffirming Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s and Dr. King’s enduring commitment to uniting our nation boldly, bravely, and through nonviolent action; and
WHEREAS, in reflecting on the advocacy and activism inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his contemporaries - including Bayard Rustin, Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, John Lewis, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, and Hosea Williams, we are reminded of the power of creating meaningful change both outside of and within our public and institutional structures; and
WHEREAS, the call to build community, advance justice, and pursue nonviolence resonates in the career of long-time Gahanna resident James E. Green, whose 31-year tenure on the Franklin County Municipal Court concluded on December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Retired Judge James E. Green began his legal career with five years of service as an Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor and five years as an Administrator for the Supreme Court of Ohio before being appointed to the Franklin County Municipal Court bench by Governor George Voinovich in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Judge Green earned the confidence of the electorate by winning his first election in 1995 and was subsequently re-elected by Franklin County voters in four consecutive elections; and
WHEREAS, public service is sustained by the support of family, and Retired Judge Green’s wife, Mrs. Rhesa Green, is to be commended for her steadfast encouragement and shared commitment to community service; and
WHEREAS, throughout a legal career spanning more than four decades, Ret. Judge Green exemplified commitment to justice, fairness, and dignity for all litigants, and fostered a culture of safety, redemption, accountability, and equity - principles that align with Dr. King’s vision of a beloved and just community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT JOINTLY RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL AND PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, COUNTY OF FRANKLIN, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That the City of Gahanna does hereby recognize January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and as the MLK Day of Service in the City of Gahanna.
Section 2. That the City of Gahanna honors the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the National Day of Service by encouraging the residents of Gahanna to embody his vision by standing together for justice through advocacy, service, and faith in the enduring promise of American democracy.
Section 3. That the City of Gahanna congratulates and recognizes Retired Judge James E. Green for more than 40 years of dedicated public service, during which he lived the values of nonviolence, unity, accountability, and justice as a servant leader to the residents of Franklin County, and extends its best wishes to him and his wife, Mrs. Rhesa Green, in the next chapter of their lives.
Section 4. That this Joint Resolution and Proclamation shall be in full force and effect at the earliest period allowed by law.