A rose to all those who participated in Martin Luther King events staged throughout the Golden Triangle this past week. From coat drives to packing lunches for Loaves and Fishes and many other MLK Day of Service events to programs at The Mill at MSU in Starkville and the Trotter Center in Columbus, residents had a chance to listen, learn and act, all in honor of the legacy of King, whose fight for justice is far from finished and now relies on all people of good faith, regardless of color, to advance.
A rose to K.B. Turner, who was hired to conduct a study of the Columbus Police Department and make recommendations to help the department better serve our community.
Turner, a consultant who is also chairman for the University of Memphis Criminology and Criminal Justice Department, was hired by a unanimous vote of the city council Tuesday.
Friday, he held an introductory press conference, during which he vowed to talk to all stakeholders and be transparent throughout this six-month study.
We were particularly pleased to note Turner said he wants an open dialogue and will keep the media aware of each step in the process. This suggests he understands the media’s role in making sure the public is well-informed. We wish him every success in his efforts and urge cooperation from city and police personnel as well as the public. We all have a common goal: Making Columbus a safer place to live, work and play.
A rose also to the Mississippi Senate, which passed a resolution “honoring President Barack Hussein Obama as he leaves office and the historical significance of his becoming the first African-American President of the United States.”
The resolution passed with 44 “yea” votes, including that of Chuck Younger (R, Columbus). Angela Turner-Ford (D, West Point) was among seven senators who were absent at the time of the vote. While the Republican-dominated legislature has often been at odds with Obama, the resolution shows a respect for the office and the man who held it. In this time of bitter partisanship, it was a refreshing gesture by our Legislature.
A rose to our democracy, as expressed in local participation in two major events this weekend. Friday’s presidential inauguration attracted visitors from our community, including a trio of active members of the Lowndes County Republican Women — Norma Sanders, Brenda Willis and Rissa Lawrence, as well as Corky and Lindsay Smith.
Meanwhile, other local residents traveled to both Washington, D.C., and Jackson Saturday to participate in protests marches against President Trump. No doubt, each group has distinctly different ideas of what our new president will do — or not do — for our country.
That each of us is free to assemble publicly to demonstrate their views is one of the things that distinguishes our nation from others, where the freedom to assemble does not exist. We urge all citizens to find a way to actively participate in our democracy. For some, that might mean being active in political groups, voting, advocating for causes or participating in peaceful protests and demonstrations. We commend all who avail themselves of these opportunities, regardless their views.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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