Hundreds gather to remember King

On Monday, a crowd of more than 250 people gathered in the large courtroom at the Franklin County Courthouse to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On the day set aside for the revolutionary civil rights leader’s birthday, the Northwest Alabama Chapter of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee sponsored an event that was attended by people from Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale counties.

Keynote speaker for the event was retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Willie Alexander who is also a member of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where Dr. King served as a pastor during the last years of his life.

Alexander said that being a part of King’s church has been a special thing for him and for his family.

“I have a very high regard and respect for Martin Luther King and the way he opened doors and made opportunities available for people all over the world,” Alexander said. “Usually on the Martin Luther King holiday, I serve at Ebenezer Baptist Church as an usher or in some other capacity, so it was hard for me to be away from there in order to speak at this event. But [Mayor] Troy Oliver asked me to speak and I value his friendship and considered it an honor to speak to these people about the importance of Dr. King’s life.”

Alexander said he believed one of the most important principles that King taught was the principle of fulfilling one’s dreams, which Alexander hopes all young people will embrace.

“Our youth need to realize that if they have a dream, they must do the things necessary to make that dream a reality,” Alexander said. “This was something that I tried to teach my children as they were growing up.

“My oldest daughter is a pediatrician in Georgia, but she never would’ve been if she hadn’t believed in herself and her abilities. She was told in high school that she shouldn’t even try to pursue a college degree. But she had excellent grades and knew that she wanted to be a pediatrician.

“She studied at Howard University in D.C. and attended medical school at Emory University in Atlanta and was ultimately able to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.”

Alexander added that this principle is something he has also implemented in his own life and career. In 1999, Gov. Don Siegelman appointed Alexander to the position of Adjutant General of Alabama for the Alabama National Guard, a position that had never been held by an African American up until that point.

“During my military career, I have pursued challenging positions and I have worked hard at those positions,” he said. “Being the first African American Adjutant General is not something I tell people as a way to brag. It just goes to show that if you are willing to work hard and make sacrifices, any dream you have can come true.”

King is probably best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech where he talks about these ideals, but he is also known for his speeches and talks on equality and peace for each race.

While there are many who believe these issues addressed during the civil rights movement are a thing of the past, there are just as many who believe the issues of equality and peace should continue to be addressed today.

Alexander said that he is a firm believer of this continued education.

“I learned during my military career that things don’t just go away by themselves,” Alexander said. “For a difference to be made, it takes people who have the authority and ability to stand up and act.

“In school, a teacher may not reach every single child in their classroom, but if he or she reached even a few students, they made a difference.

“In the same way, we may not be able to teach everyone about peace and equality, but if we get the message out there and it changes the minds of a few people, then we have succeeded.”

Rev. Charles Dale of Russellville agreed that events like the ones held on Monday are essential in educating the younger generations who did not experience the civil rights movement firsthand.

“It’s time for the younger people who have heard the stories of the struggle for equality to step up to the plate now,” Dale said. “They must continue to stand for the same principles and ideals that Dr. King stood for years ago.”

Patrice James, a 23-year-old Russellville graduate, said she has grown up being taught about the legacy of King and the importance of loving everyone she meets.

“I was raised to believe that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ,” James said.

“My mother and grandmother told me stories about my grandfather who marched with Martin Luther King and how proud my grandfather was to be there.

“Knowing this makes me proud and gives deeper meaning to the fact that we must continue to honor the work Martin Luther King did to move us all forward.”

Dale also marched with King during the height of the civil rights movement in Alabama and said that, even though he was young, he took the events very seriously.

“It was in my blood to fight against the things in my life that I knew were wrong,” Dale said. “I didn’t want to live my life having to enter through back doors or take a seat on the back row of a bus, and I didn’t want my children to live like that either. I wanted to be on the front line doing things that would benefit my community.”

While the Martin Luther King holiday is a time of celebration for the progress that was made during King’s time of leadership, Dale said it was not a celebratory time back then.

“There was a lot of fear for those of us who were standing up for equality,” Dale said. “We did not know what was ahead and many people died, both blacks and whites, but God fought our battle and we made it.”

Rev. C. D. Hamilton, pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville, said he is proud of the progress the nation has made but feels there is still progress that can be made.

“Anytime you have to walk down the streets and be afraid because of your color, the country still has a long way to go,” he said.

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing told the crowd that even though King was no longer here, everyone could continue to learn from the way King conducted himself and lived his life.

“People regard Dr. King as a great civil rights leader and speaker but they often forget that he was also a minister,” Rushing said. “Even after all the horrible things that he had seen and endured, Dr. King was still preaching a message of love from the pulpit, which showed his ability to forgive.

“No matter what race or color we are, if we can all learn to embrace these principles of love and forgiveness, we will all be better people.”