Topeka — The Lawrence delegation at Friday's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration included two white students, a black state representative, a Hispanic Kansas University official and the president of Haskell Indian Nations University, a Standing Rock Sioux.
"I am delighted just to sit here and see the diversity of our crowd," said Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence. "I think Dr. Martin Luther King would just smile."
Several hundred people gathered in the Capitol rotunda for the state's official King Day observance. The holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader's birthday is Monday.
"This is a wonderful day to celebrate Dr. King's legacy," Gov. Bill Graves said. "We have made great strides in this country in civil rights, but there is always room for improvement."
Near the towering mural of John Brown another civil rights icon who died fighting for his cause the diverse crowd listened to spirituals and speakers who hoped to keep King's spirit alive.
The featured speaker Janet Murguia, KU's executive vice chancellor for university relations said King's message wasn't one to be kept solely among Americans.
"Just as surely it belongs to the women and children of Kabul (Afghanistan), the members of our armed forces and anyone who struggles in a just cause to cast off the yoke of human tyranny," she said.
With projections showing there will be no majority race in California in 10 years and no majority race in the United States in 50 years, Murguia said making connections between people should be a major goal.
"In a more interconnected world, this diversity can be our greatest strength," she said.
Two South Junior High School students were honored by Graves at the event for their King-inspired artwork. Margaret Pendleton won first place in the eighth-grade category for her work, which said, "Let Freedom Ring" with two bells.
Kate Truscello, a ninth-grader, won first in the seventh- through ninth-grade division. Her work said, "Making the Symphony of Freedom Play Louder Every Day" and was adorned with music notes.
King "really worked for what he believed in. He had the guts to go out and make that speech," Truscello said.
"He changed the whole world. If he hadn't, we might still be segregated. Look around here there's all different races," Pendleton added.
Karen Swisher, president of Haskell Indian Nations University, offered this challenge to the crowd in her benediction: "Dr. King's dedication to equality is a work in progress."
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