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Selma celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.




Sara McAllister introduces her husband, seated at left. Debbie Herrera | Johnstonian News

SELMA — To Angelique Legette, the words and deeds of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were expressions of love.

“If we take a moment, we can think of all the times our actions were generated by love,” said Legette, who was among the speakers for Selma’s King Day program. “It could be when we were at home as parents or in the community or elected officials.”



When she reflected on “Generated by Love,” the program’s theme, she thought of King and others like him, Legette said. “I thought of people I could imitate whose actions were generated by love,” she said. “I thought of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and the most perfect example, Jesus Christ.”

Selma Mayor Byron McAllister, the program’s keynote speaker, continued on the day’s theme. “Words and actions generated by love will not always leave loved ones feeling warm and fuzzy,” he said. “Raising children is a constant reminder of that.”

“Telling a loved one that their alcohol or drug abuse must stop has never been a quick chat ending with hugs and high-fives,” the mayor continued. “Telling our close colleague, business partner or friend that they are not pulling their weight in an endeavor does not often turn into a duet of ‘Kumbaya.’ ” These aren’t soft conversations with pleasant music in the background; they’re conversations generated by love.”

And love is always the right motivation, said McAllister, who peppered his remarks with Bible verses and snippets of King speeches. “I encourage you all to embrace the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said. “It is time for us to come together (and) unify with words and actions generated by love.”

Sara McAllister introduced her husband. “Thank you for inviting our family to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with you all today,” she said. “I am grateful for the work of Dr. King, for if it wasn’t for him and the many civil rights activists through the years, my husband and I may not have the life we have today.”