A rose to all those in our community who are organizing, volunteering and participating in the various events planned for Martin Luther King Day on Monday. In Columbus, The United Way is partnering with the city of Columbus to coordinate a service project aimed at restoring and restocking the 28 mini-food pantries located in Columbus, Caledonia, Crawford and Artesia. Individuals can repair and restock individual mini-pantries or donate funds for those efforts. Visit liveunitedms.org/mlk-day-adopt-box to learn how to get involved. Columbus will also host a freedom walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Municipal Complex and ending at Trotter Convention Center. A prayer breakfast will be held immediately after in the upper level of the building followed by a community reading of King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” in the lower level of the Trotter. In Starkville, the Oktibbeha County Branch of the NAACP will host its annual Unity March at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Prior to the march, there will be a worship service beginning at 10 a.m. at New Zion United Methodist Church. West Point’s annual march honoring King will begin at 9 a.m. Monday.
A rose to House of Representatives members Andy Boyd and Dana McLean, who were among 17 Republicans to break ranks with party leadership and vote against HB 2 on Thursday. Among other things, the bill would allow parents access to taxpayer funds to pay private school tuition in clear violation of the Mississippi Constitution. Section 208 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 states: “No religious or other sect or sects shall ever control any part of the school or other educational funds of this state; nor shall any funds be appropriated toward the support of any sectarian school, or to any school that at the time of receiving such appropriation is not conducted as a free school.” Although the bill passed, 61-59, and will now go to the Senate for consideration, we believe those in our delegation who voted no – Boyd, McLean and Democrats Kabir Karriem and Cheikh Taylor – put the welfare of our public schools over politics that have more to do with ideology than education. We applaud the courage and integrity these “no” votes represent.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
