Crowd: King showed love, compassion

It’s no secret that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged people to love their enemies in a time when the struggle for equality often came at the black community with jail stints, assault and more.

On Monday, a group of 87 walked from Opp City Hall to the MLK monument on Mullins Street in Opp to commemorate King’s life and the impact he made on humanity. Some 15 more rode in cars and other modes of transportation.

The Rev. Johnny Lawrence said that Dr. King gave speeches on love.

“If we would love, our world would be a much better place,” he said.

Lawrence said that God has used his people to get the job done.

“We are the hands and feet of God,” he said. “We are thankful we have the freedom to assemble and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and to express ourselves and our appreciation to the great leader.”

Lawrence said life hasn’t always been the way it is now in terms of equality.

“God has used people, and we have come a long way,” he said. “God has done great things for his people. To God be the glory.”

Opp Mayor John Bartholomew said Monday was an important day.

“What makes this man so great is that he understood the principle of love,” Bartholomew said. “Love he knew is the master of all circumstances. He knew that the diversification he had to go through, but he knew how to beat that. The only way to beat that was with love. That’s why we are where we are today because of his love and compassion.

“It was for all of us,” he said. “He is an inspiration to all of us for the love he had in his heart.”

District 4 Councilwoman Mary Brundidge said the world would be better if residents could just love one another.

“We don’t do that sometimes,” she said. “Martin loves all of us. You first got to believe in yourself. I was thinking as I was riding along. I went back to the 60s. That was terrible times. Now, hopefully our kids can carry on. This is a rough job dealing with people. As we go along, we need plenty of prayer.”

Brundidge encouraged people to go out and vote during the upcoming elections. Politics moves things and makes things better, she said.

Corene Crayton, 91, also spoke.

Crayton helped man the phone and the door at the Rev. Ralph Abernathy’s home during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and during other events, including the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Crayton worked side-by-side with King.