Published January 20th, 2020 at 6:00 AM
Above image credit: Martin Luther King Jr. visited Kansas State University in April 4, 1968. (Kansas Memory | Kansas State Historical Society)— Excerpt from an interview published by the Kansas State Federation of Labor (Source: Kansas Historical Society)
“Discrimination in any form is a moral offense, whether it be against an individual because of the color of his skin or his religious beliefs, or whether it be aimed at denying masses of people their legitimate rights to an effective voice in the manner of the distribution of the fruits of their toil.”
Martin Luther King Jr. left a lasting imprint on the nation and on Kansas City.
Today’s federal holiday honoring the Civil Rights leader is observed as “a day on, not day off” with a focus on serving the community. It is the only “federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities,” according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.
In Kansas City, residents honor King with events that walk in his footsteps and commemorate his efforts. Events hosted by churches, community centers, schools and universities provide opportunities to actively remember King, whether by helping people in need or by learning more about the history of Civil Rights in the Kansas City metro.
Note: Follow the link to learn more about each event.