Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

WHEREAS:   The theme of this 32^nd annual celebration is “Working Together in Unity.” 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:   In 1960, the Reverend Dr. King stated “Men are not easily moved from their mental ruts or purged of their prejudiced and irrational feelings.  When the underprivileged demand freedom, the privileged first react with bitterness and resistance.  Even the demands are couched in nonviolent terms, the initial response is the same…So the nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor.  It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it.  It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had.  Finally, it reaches the opponent and so stirs up his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality.”; and

WHEREAS:   The City of Lawrence, the Ecumenical Fellowship, 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 local residents to show their commitment to continue to develop Dr. King’s vision by participating in these events.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Amyx, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the week of January 11 – 16, 2017 as

“DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WEEK”

                                                                   Mike Amyx, Mayor

January 9, 2017