It may not have been the largest demonstration on MLK Day in Emporia’s history; however, the spirit behind a community gathering at Eastside Memorial Park Monday carried with it an important theme: togetherness.
Members of the Emporia Eastside Community group organized the gathering at the park to provide a time of community and message, according to lead organizer Al Slappy. Slappy tells KVOE News that it is important on the day of remembrance to constantly remind ourselves of the various teachings of Dr. King, one of which was the importance of standing together in unity.
During the gathering, Slappy shared a message titled “A thought, a dream, needs work,” where he explained that to see the dream which Dr. King envisioned and shared to thousands on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial over 60 years ago come to fruition, we all must play our part. Slappy says all people have a skill, talent or trait that they can use to contribute to a stronger and more unified society.
A little over a dozen individuals turned out for the event that also included music, beverages and cookies and while Slappy noted they have seen larger turnout at events in the past, it is not the size of the gathering but how it impacts each person that truly matters, saying whether it’s 1,000 or 1, the message is the most important thing.
Monday marked the 43rd anniversary of MLK Day after it was signed into law by US President Ronald Reagan in 1983, 15 years after King was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and 20 years after King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
