A capacity crowd of thousands gathered today to hear Bishop Lemuel F. Thuston speak at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan.
Bishop Thuston, with a theme of “Reigniting the Dream: All Lives Matter,” briefly touched on some events of the past few years, such as protests following incidents in Ferguson, Mo., and other cities. He also briefly mentioned the upcoming presidential election.
There has been an awakening, a thawing, great stirring across the nation since the Ferguson, Mo., incident and a Florida incident, he said.
“There has been a cascading of incidents that have reminded us that we have come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” Thuston said.
Bishop Lemuel F. Thuston today said at the King Day celebration in Kansas City, Kan., there has been a cascading of incidents that have reminded us that we have come a long way, but we have a long way to go, (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
There’s been a reigniting of the reality that there is yet much work to be done, he said. Racism, bigotry, high unemployment, fighting among the faith community, and an end to violence, are among the challenges that are faced.
About Martin Luther King Jr., Thuston said, “I choose to remember what he is doing, because one thing that is irrefutable: He did his part.”
Thuston noted that Martin Luther King Jr. came to Kansas City, Kan., and spoke at Sumner High School about 50 years ago.
Bishop Thuston said Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve, and the greatest is the greatest servant.”
The legacy of King is not just with big shots, leaders, the haves and the upper crust, he said.
“The legacy of King is there is a calling, there is an opportunity, there is a mandate and there is a chance for every one of us to do our part in Kansas City,” Thuston said.
He cited Martin Luther King Jr.’s message about becoming the best.
“If you’re going to be an artist, be a Picasso.” Thuston said. “Martin Luther King said if you’re going to be a scientist, be a Pasteur, be a Curie, be a George Washington Carver.”
But maybe you won’t be an artist, composer, or scientist, he noted. “Maybe you’ll just be a street sweeper,” Thuston said, citing a Martin Luther King Jr. message. “But if you become a street sweeper, sweep your street with all of your might. Sweep your street until the angels in heaven have to pause and see you and tell the Almighty, there goes the greatest street sweeper of all time.”
Thuston is the jurisdictional prelate of the Kansas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Lemuel Thuston was the keynote speaker at today’s King Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Mayor Mark Holland, in remarks at the King Day celebration, mentioned the public safety diversity task force of the Unified Government. He said the UG started its process nine months before incidents started in Ferguson, Mo. The task force considered how the UG could do a better job at recruiting, hiring and promoting women and minorities. Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland said many recommendations of the public safety diversity task force were approved and are in this year’s Unified Government budget. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Last May, 35 recommendations from Department of Justice task force on public safety diversity were approved that went into the UG budget for this year, he said.
“If we will just hire local, we will get the diversity we expect,” Mayor Holland said.
Youth from the Greater Pentecostal Temple performed selections at the event.
During the event today, funds were collected for scholarships for local students, and scholarships were presented. Mayor Mark Holland addressed public safety diversity at today’s King Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
The Martin Luther King Mass Choir, under the direction of Alicia Saunders, performed at the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) The Martin Luther King Mass Choir, under the direction of Alicia Saunders, performed at the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Pastor Michael Portley, left, of Transformation Family Life Center, and his sister, Tifani Portley Lott, performed with the Martin Luther King Mass Choir today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Pastor Michael Portley, left, of Transformation Family Life Center, and his sister, Tifani Portley Lott, performed with the Martin Luther King Mass Choir today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Tifani Portley Lott performed with the Martin Luther King Mass Choir today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Youth performed with the MLK Mass Choir at the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A capacity crowd of thousands attended the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) A scene from the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) The Rev. Harold Johnson, also a Unified Government commissioner, introduced Bishop Lemuel F. Thuston at the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) The Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, offered an invocation today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) Youth participated in today’s King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo) Youth participated in today’s King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo) The Rev. Jimmie Banks, pastor of Strangers Rest Baptist Church, presided at today’s King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo) P.R.I.D.E. black firefighters staffed a table at the King Day celebration today at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo) Alpha Kappa Alpha staffed a voter registration table today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo) The NAACP table featured voter registration materials today at the King Day celebration at the Reardon Center, Kansas City, Kan. (Staff photo)
Dangerous wind chill values between 10 and 20 below zero will affect areas north of I-70 this morning, according to the National Weather Service.
The temperature at 7 a.m. Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day., in Kansas City, Kan., was 4 degrees, with a wind chill of minus 6. The area is under a wind chill advisory this morning until 9 a.m., according to the weather service.
The weather service warned residents that frostbite and hypothermia could result at these temperatures. Those who must go out of doors should wear a hat and gloves, the weather service said.
Accumulating snow is again likely on Tuesday with 1 to 2 inches expected south of the Missouri River and around 2 to 4 inches across northern Missouri, the weather service said.
Another round of wintry weather is possible late Wednesday night and Thursday and may bring additional light snow accumulations, according to the weather service.
Today’s high, according to the weather service, will be near 21, and there will be sunny skies. The wind chill will be between minus 7 and minus 3. A light and variable wind will become south southeast 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight, the low will be around 17, with increasing clouds, the weather service said. There will be a southeast wind of 6 to 8 mph.
Tuesday, there is a 70 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon, the weather service said. It will be cloudy, with a high near 29, and an east wind of 9 to 11 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches is possible.
Tuesday night, there is a 50 percent chance of snow before midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 20.
Wednesday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 33, the weather service said. A light and variable wind will become south southeast 6 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday night’s low will be around 25, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be cloudy with a high near 33, the weather service said.
Tuesday snow forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)
