Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, Edmond C. Rollins remembers his days as a young man in southern Louisiana when racial tensions were strong between blacks and whites.
Restrooms and water fountains designated for "whites" and "colored" also come to Rollins' mind.
Rollins, 62, senior pastor at Wannamaker Baptist Church in Dover, Okla., said he is proud to have the opportunity to share his experience with civil rights on Monday. He will speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally in Clovis following the annual commemorative walk.
Portales celebrations of King Day are 10 a.m. Monday, with a march starting at the Roosevelt County Museum on ENMU's campus, ending at the Portales High School auditorium. The march will be led by Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard.
Portales City Councilman Oscar Robinson serves as master of ceremonies of the Portales event, which also features a proclamation by Mayor Sharon King. At 11:10 a.m., members of the Portales Schools performing arts will present a concert.
In Clovis, Rollins will focus on following King's dream to move forward.
"You can expect some information about how we need to first understand the dreamer, Dr. King," said Rollins, who was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base from 1992-1996.
"His philosophy was two key things: Nonviolence and helping the poor and the disenfranchised. If we can practice these two things in our lives, then we can move forward with King's dream."
Rollins, a native of Jeanerette, La., teaches high school ROTC in Enid, Okla.
Rollins said he pastors at the only multicultural church in Dover, Okla., Rollins has a master's degree in counseling, a master's degree in Christian counseling and will receive a doctorate in Christian counseling in May.
The theme of this year's Clovis march and rally is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! 'King's Dream of Our World'"
The march symbolizes the struggles that King and African-Americans endured during the tumultuous civil rights era.
Joyce Pollard, president of the Clovis Martin Luther King Commission, said the King Day celebration is a time to reflect on King's philosophy of non-violence and unity among ethnicities and cultures.
"I think Clovis is a community that always comes together when there is a crisis or whatever," Pollard said. "This is a citywide celebration. That's what I really like about it, the unity."
Pollard hopes the MLK activities will bring greater unity to Clovis. According to Pollard, more senior citizens are participating this year, many volunteering in the march.
Pollard said the MLK march and rally have grown and attracted more people each year throughout the past 20 years.
Pollard said when the march began 21 years ago the MLK commission awarded student scholars trophies and certificates. The commission will award two graduating high school seniors $1,000 scholarships in May.
Pollard believes the King Day celebration is essential to remind citizens to try to live by King's message of non-violence and selfless service to others every day.
"We need to do it more than just one day," Pollard said.
"We should try to do all those things that Dr. King fought for and eventually died for each day of all lives."
MLK Day Clovis events
The Clovis High School band drumline and CHS color guard will lead the march. Marchers will sing gospel songs.
The first stop will be at Lincoln-Jackson Family Center. The La Casita Elementary Folklorico Dancers will perform at Lincoln-Jackson.
The next stop will be at Roy Walker Recreation Center. Drinks and refreshments will be served at Roy Walker.
Also at the rally:
Clovis native Charlotte Shaw will recite King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
The Farwell New Life Baptist Church choir will perform.
MLK Day Portales events
Information: 356-6662.
