Staff Writer
Over 100 people brave the cold for courthouse steps rally
PICKENS - Despite temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, about 100 people turned out Monday to participate in a rally celebrating the life and impact of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“This is the second year of the MLK march and rally,” James Robinson, who photographed the event. “Last year, we had about 250 people here, so I am sure the cold weather kept many people inside n especially the older people.”
The event began at 11 a.m. when the group left Pickens Presbyterian Church, on West Main Street, and walked about five blocks to the steps of the Pickens County Courthouse. There, huddled close against the chilled January wind, children and adults were treated to motivational speeches and prayers by local clergy.
“We have all come this far by faith, and by faith, we will continue to be led by God,” Reverend Carroll Austin, of Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church, told the crowd. “As Christians, we are all created equal. And God loves all people.”
Austin said that everyone, regardless of race, creed or social status, should work toward uniting mankind.
“You can make a difference in your day, just as Martin Luther King did,” he said
Quoting from King’s August 28, 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, Austin said “we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Through God’s guidance, people can discover a new life and new healing that is regimented by the Holy Spirit, Austin said.
“The best is yet to come” he said. “God is answering your prayers.”
Pickens Mayor David Owens said that as a newly elected city official two years ago, he requested that City Council vote to recognize Martin Luther King’s birthday as an official city holiday.
“We voted on a MLK holiday and council voted unanimously to approve it,” Owens said. “We celebrate his birthday for what Martin Luther Kind did for all men.”
Following the rally, the group returned to Pickens Presbyterian Church for an afternoon of food and fellowship.
Shelia Crawford, president of the Pickens County Branch of the NAACP, said that she decided to attend the Pickens event rather than the State’s celebration in Columbia.
“I think this is an awesome day in Pickens County,” Crawford said. “I think this is important to everyone in Pickens.”
Crawford said that everyone working together toward bridging racial gaps will result in a unity among all people.
“The only way that Martin Luther King’s dream to become reality is for all of us to work together and make it a reality,” she said. “It is time for all of us to come together to fulfill his dream.”
Events, such as Monday’s rally and fellowship, are a good beginning of turning a dream into reality, Crawford said.
“This is wonderful,” she said, as she surveyed the crowd gathered in the fellowship hall of Pickens Presbyterian Church. “This is what Dr. King wanted.”
Robin Giddings, of Pickens Presbyterian Church and an organizer of the event, said that the second annual MLK rally and fellowship was in response to a Christian call to work together in uniting mankind.
“This is in effort to reach out and join hands with all people,” she said. “God calls us as Christians to reach across whatever divides us and come together as a family.
“We are also celebrating the life of one who did so much for so many, she said.”
Johnny Hatton said that Monday’s event was important to him because he was part of the civil rights movements led by King.
“I remember when the Ice Cream Parlor in Easley was divided, and had a small window for us,” he said. “I remember when the drugstore in Greenville had a back door.”
Hatton said that he still feels the touch of racism in this day, but he is praying for change.
“Racism is taught,” he said. “Hatred isn’t something we are born into this world with, it is something that people were taught and what children were taught.
“But if we continue to answer hatred with love, we will see changes,” he said.
Post a Comment
