SR205: SR205 Senator Vincent D. Fort Memorial Intersection; Fulton County; dedicate

25 LC 39 4626 Senate Resolution 205 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Lucas of the 26th, Jones of the 10th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of the Honorable Vincent D. Fort a nd dedicating an1 intersection in his memory; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Honorable Vincent D. Fort was born on April 28, 19 56, in New Britain,3 Connecticut, a beloved son of Charles Fort, Sr., and Clara Hutchinson Fort; and4 WHEREAS, after completing his higher education, he settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where he5 became a respected historian, taught at Morehouse College and Morris Brown College, and6 served as assistant director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers Project; and7 WHEREAS, he served as a Georgia State Senator for the 39th District from 1996 to 2017,8 representing parts of Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City, and unincorporated9 Fulton County as well as consistently advocating for justice and equity for all; and10 WHEREAS, in 2001, Senator Fort authored Georgia's first hate crimes law, ensuring harsher11 penalties for crimes motivated by bias, as well as the Georgia Fair Lending Act, which stood12 at the time as the strongest anti-predatory lending legislation in the nation and protected13 consumers from abusive practices; and14 S. R. 205 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4626 WHEREAS, in 2011, he was elected as Georgia's Democratic Whip, during which time he15 championed legislation against discrimination, racial profiling, environmental racism, and16 labor injustices while supporting fair wages, labor unions, and stronger community17 protections; and18 WHEREAS, he was named "Legislator of the Year" in 2017 by the Georgia Association of19 Educators for his advocacy of Senate Bill 30, which aimed to im prove public education20 funding and enhance community schools; and21 WHEREAS, he was united in love and m arriage to his wife, Cheryl , and the two were22 blessed with three remarkable children, Nyahuma, Clara-Faith, a nd Zoë, as well as three23 wonderful grandchildren, Gizelle, Chloe, and Sunday; and24 WHEREAS, Senator Fort was a powerful voice for economic and rac ial equality, and his25 commitment to the people will leave a lasting impact on the City of Atlanta and the State of26 Georgia; and27 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le and distinguished28 Georgian be appropriately recognized by dedicating an intersection in his memory.29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL30 ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the intersection of State Route 139/Ralph David Abernathy31 Boulevard and Lee Street Southwest in Fulton County is dedicated as the Senator Vincent32 D. Fort Memorial Intersection.33 S. R. 205 - 2 - 25 LC 39 4626 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and34 directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Senator Vincent D. Fort35 Memorial Intersection.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the family of the38 Honorable Vincent D. Fort and to the Department of Transportation.39 S. R. 205 - 3 -