Southwest Florida pastors reflect on legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Reporter: Sydney Persing
Published: Updated:
In this April 3, 1968 photo, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., center, and his aides walk at the Lorraine Motel, in Memphis, Tenn., discussing the restraining order King had just received barring them from leading another march in Memphis without court approval. On April 4, at 6:01 p.m., an assassin’s bullet found Dr. King on the balcony of the Lorraine just outside his second-floor room, killing him. (Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal via AP)

If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, the venerable Civil Rights era leader would be appalled at the state of the country.

That’s what Reverend Rickey Anderson, of Followers of Chris Fellowship Ministries, believes.

Anderson and other local pastors discussed King’s legacy and what it means to them.

If King, who was assassinated in 1968, were alive today he would have turned 92.

Pastor James C. Givens also believes King would be disappointed.

“His platform has always been about unity … and we are now divided in many ways,” said Givens, of Mount Olive AME Church.

Givens would ask King how to correct the wrongs of today if given the chance to speak to the Civil Rights leader.

“I would probably say, Dr. King, I know all that you stand for,” Anderson said. “All these protests, that you have done … Why is it that everyone cannot do a peaceful protest?”

But in the end, New Hope Church Pastor David Acton said King would never lose hope.

“As dark as our time is and his was, I know his message of hope,” Acton said.

Anderson said he does believe that with enough faith, things can change.

“I believe things will change, can change, they have … but we got a long way to go,” Anderson said.

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