Mayor Loving Proclaims May 1 as Law Day in McPherson; Governor Kelly to Follow with Statewide Signing
A collaborative effort among three local institutions featured a panel on the free press, a McPherson Law Day website and a short film created to mark the annual celebration of the rule of law
MCPHERSON, Kan. — Mayor Jim Loving has proclaimed May 1 as Law Day in McPherson, and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is set to issue a statewide proclamation at a signing ceremony on April 30. Law Day, established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 and observed annually on May 1, is a national day set aside to reflect on the role of law in American society and the nation's commitment to the rule of law.
To mark the occasion, Adele Bonney, a McPherson resident, spearheaded a joint initiative among three McPherson educational institutions to help residents explore those themes ahead of the celebration. The collaboration among the McPherson Public Library, McPherson High School and McPherson College features specialized reading programs, monthlong exhibits and a public forum focusing on the free press. The day itself will be marked by public screenings of a locally produced short film commemorating the rule of law.
On May 1, McPherson will host free public screenings of "The Rule of Law: If You Can Keep It," a 15-minute film directed by Oliver Bowman, a junior at McPherson High School. The video, filmed entirely in McPherson, will premiere at the McPherson Museum (1111 E. Kansas Ave.) with two showings in the Gathering Room — one at noon and another at 5:30 p.m. The film features local citizens whose work supports the rule of law, including teachers, a journalist, a librarian, an attorney, a police officer and an election supervisor.
Bonney said she knows of no other community undertaking a project of this scope for Law Day. "The interviews in this video capture the commitment to the rule of law on a local level," she said. "It brings an abstract idea alive in personal terms, reminding us how this historical principle influences our lives."
The cornerstone of the broader collaborative effort was a free panel discussion titled "Write to Know: Law and a Free Press," held April 14. Moderated by McPherson College associate professor Julia Kuttler, the forum featured Clay Wirestone of the Kansas Reflector, Greg Loving of the Citizen Journal and Kaycee Carter of The Spectator.
Beyond the public forum, the McPherson Public Library designed two specialized bookmarks — one for adults and one for youth — featuring curated lists of fiction and nonfiction books related to the justice system. The adult bookmark links to a new website (mcphersonlawday.weebly.com) built and hosted by McPherson High School teacher Bryan Little. The online platform offers additional reading recommendations and historical legal documents, including Eisenhower's original 1958 Law Day proclamation.
Miller Library at McPherson College is hosting an ongoing display of law-related materials through the end of April. Library officials noted that all recommended titles are either currently available in local collections or can be ordered from area branches, ensuring residents have access to the materials ahead of the May 1 holiday.
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