STEPS TOWARD HEALING THE PAST: EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION CELEBRATION AND BRIDGE OF PEACE CEREMONY

Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman presenting Proclamation to Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Anceney

The 150th anniversary of the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the 150th anniversary of Nevada's statehood coincided recently, and the WFWP Las Vegas chapter helped celebrate both.

We co-sponsored a segment of a weeklong series of events, held March 24-30, that commemorated Abraham Lincoln's edict that officially freed America's slaves. The main organizers of this event were the Harrison House, the Nevada Black Historical Society, the Get Active Foundation, and Las Vegas' Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce.

WFWP conducted our signature project, the Bridge of Peace Ceremony, at the highlight of the week's celebrations. This event took place Wednesday, March 26, at BPOE Elks Lodge #1468 and was called the "Moulin Rouge Affair." Fifty-four years ago, on March 26, 1960, civil rights leaders, hotel owners, and public officials met at the Moulin Rouge Hotel (the only integrated hotel and casino in Las Vegas at the time) to make a deal that led to the desegregation of Las Vegas casinos. It became known as the Moulin Rouge Agreement. Last month's event was a celebration of past civil rights achievements, and also served as a reminder of the work that yet needs to be done to foster racial harmony and community growth.

Last year, Katherine Duncan, president of the Las Vegas Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce, attended WFWP's 21st anniversary National Assembly in Washington, D.C. and crossed the Bridge of Peace with Kim Dadachanji, our Maryland chairwoman. Ms. Duncan is black and grew up in the rural South, a descendant of slaves. Mrs. Dadachanji's ancestors were slave owners. As they crossed the Bridge of Peace together, they represented these two historical enemies. Before the crossing, they talked for six hours, and as a result Ms. Duncan was deeply moved by the spirit of repentance, forgiveness, and fresh beginning that was created and fostered by the Bridge of Peace Ceremony.

The emotions Ms. Duncan experienced and the new friendship with Mrs. Dadachanji at that time remained in her heart and motivated her to be a catalyst for the formation of the Emancipation Proclamation celebration. Additionally, Ms. Duncan was instrumental in bringing the Bridge of Peace Ceremony to the 150th anniversary event in order to help move the black community forward.

The initial planning meeting for the joint event was held on December 18, 2013. It was a step-by-step learning process to build partnerships of peace-first among the main organizers and then with other people and groups.

The historic day of March 26 was on Wednesday this year. The event began at 4:30 p.m. with a reception and mixer. At 5 p.m., the main doors were opened to all 170 or so participants.

During the first part of the Moulin Rouge Affair event, Mr. Brian Greenspun, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, spoke about the history of the Moulin Rouge Agreement. Hank Greenspun, father of Brian Greenspun, was a visionary pioneer of racial harmony and was the main mediator of the 1960 agreement. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, sent a moving video clip honoring the Black Historical Society.

After Mr. Greenspun's informative talk, Ambassador for Peace awards were presented by the Universal Peace Federation to the last two surviving people who attended the historic 1960 meeting, Rev. Donald Clark and Dr. William H. Bailey.

U.S. Sen. Dean Heller sent a Senatorial Recognition, and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval sent a Certificate of Recognition to WFWP and the Emancipation Proclamation Celebration Committee.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman presented a proclamation declaring March 26 as "Moulin Rouge Agreement Day." She spoke to the audience with a passionate and assertive voice, stating clearly that in Las Vegas, "We are one."

Then the Bridge of Peace Ceremony began, with two professional singers performing Love Can Build a Bridge, which was very fitting. Keynote speaker Mrs. Dadachanji showed a video clip of the Bridge Ceremony from last year between Ms. Duncan and herself. It was very powerful, and everyone seemed to feel the sincere repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing on both sides that the video portrayed. It set the tone for the Bridge Ceremony that followed, with four white public officials and four civil rights black leaders crossing the Bridge together.

As Mr. Greenspun mentioned in his talk, "It's clear in Las Vegas that we are past whatever that history was, but I would be foolish and you would be foolish to accept it if I said, 'It's done. It's over.' It is a continuing process." Mrs. Dadachanji echoed this sentiment when she stated, "In our hearts, we have not come to the point where we really see the dignity and the honor and the value of each person around us."

Ms. Lucero Gromez-Ochoa and Mr. Harvey Munford State Assemblyman

After the Bridge of Peace Ceremony, the president of Harrison House opened the next phase of the celebration with dinner and entertainment. While all the participants were enjoying their buffet dinner, five members of the Korean Drum Team from Wongu University of Oriental Medicine performed on Korean drums and created an atmosphere of celebration. Then another professional singer, Phil Flowers (an Ambassador for Peace), sang a number of 1950s favorites. Soon many attendees were happily dancing to his music. It was a joyful experience, and the atmosphere of the whole room truly became that of a lively celebration.

Among the VIP participants were Kwon Jin Moon and Hwayun Christine Moon, son and daughter-in-law of WFWP founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon; Kathleen Blakely, honorary consul general of Japan for Nevada; Rozita Lee, commissioner of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian American & Pacific Islanders; Las Vegas Mayor Goodman; Harvey Munford, state assemblyman; Joseph Hogan, state assemblyman; a representative from Sen. Reid's office; a representative from Sen. Heller's office; a representative from Gov. Sandoval's office; Steven Wolfson, district attorney; Brian Greenspun, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Sun; Carolyn Ellsworth, a judge; Nakia Woodson, president of the Nevada Black Historical Society; Yvette Williams, Clark County Black Caucus chair; Ken Evans, president of the Urban Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Sarann Knight Preddy of the NAACP.

In the week leading up to the Moulin Rouge Affair, WFWP also participated in a neighborhood cleanup and recycling effort that attracted youth, university students, and community members. The Shin City Project stood out among all the volunteers. WFWP got food donations from Trader Joe's and provided these as snacks for the volunteers.

Media Coverage:
Newspapers: Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas Sun
Radio shows: KCEP 88.1, Kattman Internet Radio many times
TV coverage: Channel 3 reported at least four times

Group Photo

Kimiyo and Katherine with Mayor Carolyn Goodman

Christine Moon receiving recognition from Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's Office

Legislator Assemblyman Harvey Munford receiving UPF Amb. for Peace on behalf of 2 VIPs

Assemblyman Joseph Hogan and Dr. Sarann Knight Preddy

Bridge of Peace ceremony

Linda Angeline and Genevieve Dew

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman

Ms. Lucero Gromez-Ochoa and Mr. Harvey Munford, State Assemblyman