Ceremony Held At Liberty Bell To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia city government was closed, but Mayor Jim Kenney was all action for Martin Luther King Day.
He packed his schedule with events honoring the slain civil rights leader.
The Pine Forge Academy Choir lent the backdrop to a ceremonial "ringing" of the Liberty Bell, a 30-year King Day tradition, which was event number five for the mayor. Like other officials there, Kenney focused on the unfinished work of civil rights and, for Kenney, that meant another occasion to talk about one of his favorite issues: immigration.
"We have people coming to this country like, me, a descendant of Irish immigrants who weren't welcomed here and I think we need to remember that on this day of sacrifice and struggle and commitment to fairness and equity for everyone," said Kenney.
The mayor visited other favorite themes at other stops, such the need for high-tech skills training at a digital job fair and the importance of strong public education at a service project at Martin Luther King High School.