Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

WHEREAS:   The theme of this 33^rd annual celebration is “Uniting as one in righteousness in the bonds of peace”, and by such an event we are reaffirming our rights as citizens and the liberties that we enjoy, and we are expressing our hopes, dreams, and beliefs possible in the United States; and

WHEREAS:   We rededicate ourselves to the truths that he strove for, in this special year of commemoration, we thus engage in the valuable activity of reserving a day or days toward that end and we recall the legacy that the Reverend Dr. King created; and

WHEREAS:    The Reverend Dr. King stated “I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world.  It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism.  Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization.  To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe.  Someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love”; and

WHEREAS:    The Ecumenical Fellowship, the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club, along with other community institutions, are all cooperating to support the activities planned for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and encourage citizens of Lawrence to show their commitment to continue to develop Dr. King’s vision by participating in them;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Leslie Soden, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the week of January 8 – 15, 2018 as

“DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WEEK”

                                                                   Leslie Soden, Mayor

January 8, 2018