Rep. Jarrells Introduces Legislation Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on His Birthday

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) today announced the introduction of legislation to create the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. License Plate, offering Ohioans a meaningful way to honor a legacy rooted in faith, service, and the enduring pursuit of justice.

“As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday today, I am reminded of his powerful teachings during the Civil Rights Movement and across our state, calling communities to live out their highest values. He spoke of love as a public ethic, of service as a moral obligation, and of justice as work that belongs to all of us,” said Rep. Jarrells. “This license plate provides a visible and enduring way to carry that charge forward and allow Ohioans to honor Dr. King’s life while directly supporting two institutions that embody his vision in action.”

Through this legislation, Ohioans who purchase the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. License Plate will have the opportunity to donate to the Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee, Inc., host of the largest Martin Luther King, Jr. Day breakfast in the nation, and the King Arts Complex. Contributions associated with the plate will be shared equally between these organizations to further their respective missions.

“The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. License Plate is a visible and lasting way to invest in the values Dr. King preached when he stood in Ohio: service over indifference, love over division, and action over silence,” said Rep. Jarrells.

The legislation has garnered bipartisan support and will be introduced in the Ohio House in the coming days.