Martin Luther King Interfaith Service opened with Gayatri Mantra in Nevada

Interfaith Community Memorial Service for civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

in Reno (Nevada, USA) opened with Gayatri Mantra, considered the most sacred

mantra in Hinduism, on January 17.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the invocation at the Service

from ancient Hindu scriptures—Rig-Veda, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita, reading in

Sanskrit and then translating into English. Participants repeated Gayatri Mantra in

Sanskrit after Zed while standing at the Service held at Unitarian-Universalist

Fellowship of Northern Nevada (UUFNN).

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, speaking on the

occasion, stated that Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi shared a common vision on

fighting injustice using non-violent resistance.

Patricia Y. Gallimore, a leader of National Association for the Advancement of

Colored People, was the keynote speaker. Various speakers talked about life-

legacy-message of Dr. King on the occasion, including UUFNN Senior Minister Neal

Anderson, Ryan J. Earl of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

Reverend Gary Buchanan of the International Community of Christ (ICC), civil rights

activist Eddie Scott, Mary Cooper of Northern Nevada Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Committee, performance artist Jim Eaglesmith and community leader Bert Ramos.

Reverend Mother Rebecca Willis of ICC read the benediction.

Musical Selections were delivered by The Power of Love (TPOL) directed by Leon

Williams Smith and Second Baptist Church Reno Choir; while Prelude “MLK” was

performed by UUFNN Choir and Postlude by TPOL. Congregational hymn “Lift Every

Voice and Sing” and a video-tribute presented to Dr. King also formed part of the

Service.

Reverend Onie Cooper Humanitarian Awards were presented on the occasion to

Eddie Scott and We Care About Kids Nevada.