Walkers celebrate unity in Alliance

ALLIANCE - Once again, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s image overlooks the downtown in this city.

The unveiling of the repaired portrait of the Civil Rights era leader was the highlight of the YWCA Unity Walk. The Sunday afternoon march started in the 300 block of E. Market Street and concluded about a quarter of a mile east at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Viaduct on the eastern edge of downtown.

This the second year for the Unity Walk which was assembled in response to ethnic vandalism crimes which occurred in Alliance last year. The portrait of King was vandalized and the YWCA building was defaced with an antisemitic drawing.

"The Unity Walk was our response to the hate crimes," said Stacie Weimer, executive director of the YWCA Alliance. "It was a counter movement against racism. We plan on making it an annual thing."

The event drew more than 100 participants including Mayor Alan Andreani who traveled the march route while riding in a motorized wheelchair.

"I don't have a choice," said Andreani, who is in his third term as mayor. "I am going to be motoring around."

Prayers and Bible scripture reading were part of the event.

"It is about not separating or dividing," said the Rev. Jon Coventry of Trinity Episcopal Church. "Alliance is made up of a variety of people. The world now is so divided."

A ceremony on the viaduct marked the unveiling of the repaired portrait of King which is a photograph of him at the 1963 March on Washington when he delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech.

"I am esthetic that it got repaired," said city Councilwoman Sheila Cherry, D-1. "That is a community building. It unites us from one side of town to another."

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Viaduct serves as an elevated bridge for motorists and pedestrians linking the northeast corner of Alliance with the downtown. Prior to becoming a member of City Council, Cherry was instrumental in creating the memorial portrait of King.

"This is great for the city," said participant Esther Hatcher after the march. "That is what we came for, to come together."

The YWCA Unity Walk also served as the final event of this year's Alliance Carnation Festival which started Aug. 4.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance hosts Unity Walk to combat hate