On April 4, the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) held a rally that marked the 43^rd Anniversary of the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

On April 4, the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) held a rally that marked the 43^rd Anniversary of the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

King was a civil rights leader, pastor and Nobel Prize winner that led numerous nonviolent protests throughout the 1960s. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, while getting ready for a dinner meeting on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39.

King was in Memphis to lend his support to a sanitation workers’ protest. The Cleveland Chapter of the SCLC joined in his vision and brought various unions together as they marched from East 105^th and Superior a few blocks to Greater Abyssinia Baptist where the program took place.

It was then that you saw Union Workers, Clergy, and concerned citizens celebrating the life and work of Dr. King, who was in Memphis supporting workers rights before his death.

Once inside of the church the Rev. Hilton O. Smith and Marcia McCoy served as Master and Mistress of Ceremony. Stanley Miller from the Cleveland Chapter NAACP spoke about the continued fight for justice to this day.

Meryl Johnson portrayed Sojourner Truth. Truth was perhaps the most famous African-American woman in 19th century America. For over forty years she traveled the country as a forceful and passionate advocate for the dispossessed, using her quick wit and fearless tongue to fight for human rights.

A special video was shown in tribute of Dr. King entitled “Realization of a Dream” that marked his struggles during the civil rights era, that was followed by an uplifting portrayal of Dr. King last speech by Prester Pickett that commanded a standing ovation by the whole church.

SCLC recognized the following people with their Civil Rights awards, the Rev. Dr. E. T. Caviness, Judge Allison Nelson Floyd, Judge Emanuella Groves, Judge Una Keenon, Judge Lauren C. Moore, Judge Charles Patton, Mr. Burt Saltzman and Rev. Sam Tidmore.

All the Union Leaders come up and gave remarks about Senate Bill 5. Each leader proclaimed “We all are one.” Al Mixon from the Teamsters and Davida Russell from AFSME made reference that Dr. King was speaking to this group before his assassination. Dave Quolke from the Cleveland Teachers Union, Terry Freeman from Bakers local 19, and Harriet Applegate from AFL CIO also spoke.

Ward 8 Councilman Jeff John spoke about the importance of the fight against Senate Bill 5. “I agree with Dr. King as he stated: We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people. We are saying that we are God's children. And that we don't have to live like we are forced to live.

The Rev. Aaron Phillips gave the benediction and blessed the food. The SCLC served chicken, green beans, rice, pizza, and bread.

Dr. Caviness served as the president of the Cleveland Chapter of the SCLC and said “After what all the Unions are facing with Senate Bill 5, you can probably hear the words of Dr. King as he spoke to the sanitation workers in his closing historic speech.”

“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”