Untitled Document
Springfield spiritual leaders said Tuesday that they
plan to focus on progress as the city prepares to mark the 100th
anniversary of the notorious August 1908 race riot. Two organizations, the Ministerial Alliance and
Praying for Revival All Year, are calling 2008 “The Year of
Reconciliation” and will host a series of eight solemn assemblies in
downtown churches from January to August. During each meeting, participants will march to one
of eight historic markers, such as the site of the old county jail and the
William Donnegan home, and offer prayers of forgiveness and renewal. The Rev. Dr. Wesley McNeese, president of the
alliance, says that groups all over the city will commemorate the race
riots in their own ways, but spiritual leaders will fill a special niche by
asking community members to pray for solutions to race issues that still
plague Springfield.
“We believe there will be enough emphasis on
the negative,” McNeese said, “so we want to show the positive
side and what can be accomplished.”
As part of the initiative, the alliance and PRAY have
designed a special logo bearing the slogan “All Races Welcome
Here!” McNeese says that spiritual leaders feel compelled to
encourage government and civic groups to adopt their message of acceptance
during the 2008 commemoration. The first assembly will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday,
Jan. 5, at Central Baptist Church (501 S. Fourth St.). McNeese says that community members
of all faiths are welcome to attend.
Contact Amanda Robert at arobert@illinoistimes.com .
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
