by Mary Rupert
More than 1,000 people attending the Kansas City, Kan., Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration today heard a message that “the pendulum has swung back.”
The Rev. Forrest Harris Sr. of Nashville, Tenn., guest speaker, told the audience that there was a pendulum that swings throughout time, and that the nation now “has chosen chaos over community.”
“The love ethic of Jesus marvelously exemplified in the life of Martin Luther King Jr. is a cosmic pendulum from Moses to Elijah to Jesus,” Harris, president of American Bible College in Nashville, said.
In the last century, God’s cosmic pendulum gave voice to Martin Luther King Jr., and his message of freedom, justice and love, he said. Now, the pendulum is swinging back to that message.
Harris urged not nostalgia for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but rediscovery.
“Religion and moral truth must always be rediscovered,” Harris said.
Harris also referred to a current movement in the nation in the wake of the several incidents last year, including at Ferguson, Mo., and other incidents.
“A whole lot of people can’t breathe today. The poor can’t breathe. The diseased can’t breathe. I don’t know why people are fighting the Affordable Health Care Act, because folks can’t breathe,” Harris said.
The theme of today’s King Day celebration in Kansas City, Kan., was “Hands Up for Peace; Hands Up for Justice; Hands Up for God.”
Before Harris’ address, Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland told the audience at the Reardon Civic Center that Kansas City, Kan., is reviewing diversity in hiring and recruiting, especially among its public safety officers.
He said the diversity review effort started nine months before incidents in Ferguson, Mo. He invited the public to attend a 7 p.m. Feb. 5 meeting at City Hall to make comments on the diversity plan.
“I intend Kansas City, Kan., to lead the region in the deployment of body cameras,” Mayor Holland said today.
It is no small expense, but the wearing of body cameras by police officers can help protect public safety, he believes. It will probably take a year to get ready for this program, he added.
A motorcade for hunger was held before the King Day Celebration today. Food was collected for the needy.
Also, voter registration booths and health insurance signups were available at the King Day Celebration, along with free smoke detectors given to residents.
A number of scholarships also were presented at the King Day event, with a collection going toward the scholarships.
Among the groups performing at this event were the Greater Pentecostal Temple’s Praise Dance Team, the Greater Pentecostal Temple’s Men of Worship, the Martin Luther King Mass Choir under the direction of Alicia Saunders, and Creative Movement Praise Dancers, V. Lindsay SDA School.
To see a video excerpt from the Rev. Harris’ speech, visit this website: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=885621984823600&set=vb.524872680898534&type=2&theater
To see a video excerpt from a performance by the Martin Luther King Mass Choir under the direction of Alicia Saunders at today’s King Day celebration in Kansas City, Kan., visit this website: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=885629571489508&set=vb.524872680898534&type=2&theater
