BEDFORD – The 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March on Sunday, January 21st.
The event will begin at the Lawrence County Courthouse at 2:00 p.m. in the courthouse rotunda with singing and prayer.
The march has been happening every year since 1989.
The group will march around the square in downtown Bedford. Everyone will then travel to the Stonegate Arts & Education Building at 931 15th Street.
Guest speakers will include Brother Ismail Outlaw of Indianapolis.
Brown has worked in the community for over 30 years and knows that now is not the time to stop doing what he loves most: bringing the community together.
“I thank God every day for giving me another day to service. Our community has grown a lot since 1955 when I moved to Bedford,” said Brown tearfully.
Brown knows what racism is. When he left to go to college in Tennessee, he didn’t know about racism and prejudice.
“My mother told me just to go down there and love everyone. Love everyone more than yourself. I did but faced things I had never before,’ he added. “Things happened that prompted me to come home to Bedford, the greater town, city, and people. I appreciate this community.”
Brown says he will continue this tradition until the Good Lord takes him home.
“Then someone else will continue it,” he added. “The world has become so individualized that it forgets the real goal, coming together in love. That is what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, and we will continue to do that at this event.”
The march brings everyone together in love and respect for one another, which is Brown’s biggest goal.
“I want all of Lawrence County to be at this event. Mitchell, Oolitic, Judah, Springville, Williams, I want them all to join us in love and remembrance of what this march represents. That is my goal because this is the cause that will last.”
“Clarence is just asking you to show yourself, bring your kids,” he said. “I will beg you to come if I have to. When you come, you will be changed. You will feel different. This event will change you. My Momma and Daddy taught me to love, work and serve. Dr. King said everyone can learn to serve. If everyone does their part, we won’t have anything to worry about.”
