March for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted by Raven Kirk | April 24, 2019 | In NewsThe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Committee, Inc. of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County held a candlelight service and march in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Bronco Square to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park on 739 Blue Street on April 4. Important public figures in the community, members of MLK Committee, the Student Government Association of Fayetteville State University, and citizens gathered together in harmony through song, spoken word and lighting of candles to not only remember him, but to celebrate his life and his perseverance.
Dr. King’s legacy changed the lives of many leaders of color who lived during his life and now.
“We are all where we are because of what he did,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “He was one of the trailblazers that made where I am today possible. I am a direct beneficiary of his efforts.”
The speaker of the night, former mayor of Fayetteville and attorney Marshall B. Pitts, Jr, gave a powerful speech on Dr. King’s achievements from his teen years until his death at the age of 39, and how he did “So much in so little time.”
Pitts, who was also the first African American mayor of Fayetteville, continued to talk about issues in our society today, such as discrimination against Black people in banks associated with credit scores, the brutal use of force against Black men by law enforcement, and the mass suspension rate of minority children in the school system.
He concluded his speech with a reflection and inspiring words of hope: “Now is not the time for complacency; the battle is still raging. You must be tireless, you must be persistent, and you must be dedicated. Keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting.”
At Fayetteville State University we do just that and more, as noted by those that attended.
“As a Black man, and especially as a student leader at my university, I feel like bringing back that reverence of Dr. Martin Luther King and bringing everyone together is what I am supposed to do and what my position is all about,” said Karee B. Jones, mathematics major and SGA president. Dr. King inspired him through the “true test of a man,” which is the value of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort but in times of hardship.
The aspirations for this march was to “commemorate all that he stood for,” said Belinda Bryant the march coordinator and member of the MLK Committee of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Leaders and people in the community can learn a lot from Dr. King by learning about his life, accomplishments, and challenges. As Dr. King said: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”
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