Robert Blechl
NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- His message of racial harmony and nonviolence
was given a new look in Burbank.
In light of what organizers said has been an increase in hate crimes
at the local, state and national levels, "An Evening Remembering Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr." was held Wednesday in The Little White Chapel.
The tribute, presented by the Burbank Human Relations Council,
featured guest speaker John Hill, chief of staff of Los Angeles County
Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke. Additional speakers included John
Brady, president of the Burbank Human Relations Council, and Little White
Chapel Rev. Ron Degges.
"We have a remembrance annually for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.,"
said Terry Nwachie, first vice president of the Burbank Human Relations
Council. "But this year we wanted to do something special. John Hill was
invited because he has such a rich background in civil rights and spent
some time working with Dr. King."
Nwachie said Hill focused his talk on ending discrimination, not only
on a a global scale, but on a personal level as well. Discussions
centered on inequalities in education and the large numbers of minorities
incarcerated in relation to their smaller numbers in the general
population.
A gospel tribute was performed by Marissa Mike from John Burroughs
High School. Musical entertainment was also provided by The Morris Dance
Project.
"(The evening) brought another opportunity to bring to light the
importance of honoring Rev. King for the millennium and, as cliche as it
sounds, to carry his dream forward and not let it die."
