Hundreds turn out for Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

Hundreds of people turned out today for the 35th annual Kansas City, Kansas, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, 5th and Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas.

The theme of the day was “Empowering People to Live in Harmony, Love, Unity and Commitment.”

The guest speaker, the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Jr., took his text from Jeremiah 38:12, where God helps Jeremiah get out of a cistern by giving him old rags.

Dr. Smith, a professor from Samford University, Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, Alabama. told those attending that they should “take the old rags God has given you and do something with it.”

Dr. Smith encouraged people to speak out about injustice, saying that some athletes are speaking out when others are afraid to voice their concerns about injustice.

He urged the older generation to help the younger generation, and he urged youth in the audience not to give up, but to keep trying.

Attending today’s King Day celebration were many local dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., Mayor David Alvey, several Unified Government commissioners, State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., Wyandotte County District Court Judge Tony Martinez, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree Sr. and others.

One highlight of the event was the awarding of scholarships to local high school students.

Other highlights included a praise dance from God’s Grace Ministry; the MLK Mass Choir; a dance selection from “The Underground,” to be performed Feb. 1 and 2 at Kauffman Center; and a performance by Juliana Alvey of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Today’s event also included a collection of canned goods for the needy.