Brownback presents proclamation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback presented a proclamation based on freedom, equality and justice at the Governor's Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.
In recent years, the presentation was held in off-site locations for construction on the rotunda at the state capital. Thursday's event marked the first time since 2009 it was back in the capital.
Wichitan Essence Allen sang the National Anthem. Kyron Cox, the Kansas State Conference Youth and College President of the NAACP, was the keynote speaker.
"I think what they really just wanted to emphasize is that everyone can play a role," said Mildred Edwards, Kansas African American Affairs Commission executive director. "The first action is being able to fairly judge one another."
Edwards said efforts must continue to treat and judge others equally.
"We work to improve outcomes for our African-American population in many areas," Edwards said. "Those areas that we focus on include schools and educational opportunity, health and safe communities, criminalization and social justice, and also civic leadership and advocacy.
"We have a long way to go to obtain equity in each of those areas. African-Americans are far behind our peers in many of those areas. The work is not done."
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