On the same day that a preliminary hearing had been scheduled in Johnson County in a case where a a neo-Nazi allegedly shot and killed three persons outside the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, an announcement was made about a new group that will promote racial and religious acceptance in the community.
A faith walk, song contest and community gathering will take place in April 2015 to mark the first anniversary of the shooting deaths of three Kansas City area residents outside of two Jewish institutions by an alleged Neo Nazi. The announcement was made Wednesday by Mindy Corporan whose son, Reat Griffin Underwood, and father, Dr. William Corporon, were killed outside of the Jewish Community Campus in Overland Park. Terri LaManno was gunned down outside of Village Shalom, an older adult living community.
A springtime event is meant to bring together diverse groups of faith and culture to work together to create understanding and counter hate. The event is being put together by The Reat Griffin Underwood Memorial Foundation/Faith Always Wins initiative, the LaManno Family, and the newly formed Racial and Religious Acceptance and Cultural Equality Foundation.
A steering committee comprised of a cross-section of the community is working on the details for the major event. While still in the planning stages, this event will include a Faith Walk beginning from the Jewish Community Campus and concluding at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. A Celebration of Life will take place at COR that will include performances of the three top songs selected as part of RRACE’s Songwriting Contest. Teens ages 14-21 are invited to submit original songs that address themes of racial, religious and/or cultural equality.
During the week prior to the community event, the public is asked to perform good deeds as part of Seven Days of Kindness. Those experiences can be shared through Facebook on Popeye and Reat’s “Something Good” Page. Other organizations involved as community partners include COR, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and Village Shalom.
The alleged shooter’s case was delayed Wednesday for a mental evaluation.
