Locals honor slain civil rights leader

Clovis celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday and Monday with guest speakers and a memorial march, while looking back at the slain civil rights leader's efforts to bring equality to all.

Some highlights:

• The Clovis Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship breakfast brought in an estimated 500 people to the Clovis High School Cafeteria on Saturday.

Former Second Judicial District Judge Tommy Jewell was the keynote speaker for the breakfast. He spoke to the group about, "Where we are and where we are going."

"We are not where we need to be. There is a way we need to act and what we need to do," Jewell said.

Jewell praised the estimated 200 children who attended the breakfast from The Arts Academy at Bella Vista.

"These kids will be the future," Jewell said.

• Favorite MLK quotes?

King Commission President Joyce Pollard said she is most inspired by this: "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

"There's always something we can do to prevent violence and live peacefully in our country," Pollard said. "Be peacemakers, not peace-breakers."

Constance Williams said her favorite King quote is on display at the Clovis-Carver Public Library in a 7,000-bead friendship bracelet:

"If we're going to have peace on Earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class and our nation. And this means we must develop a world perspective."

Ben Salazar's favorite MLK quote:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

• Monday's 1 1/2 mile march from Upsilon Street to Main Street was held with about 50 marchers. The temperature was 14 degrees.

When the marchers arrived at Clovis' Legacy Life Family Church at the corner of Main and Seventh Streets they were greeted by the Clovis High School Marching Wildcats Drum Line.

Speaker at the rally at the church was Marvin Cox Sr. He is founder of Clovis' United Family Ministries. An estimated 75 to 100 people attended the gathering.

Cox talked about "sticking true to the theme of non-violence."

"Non-violent actions continue to propel forward by display in strength and courage," Cox said.

• Pollard said she's been participating in the Clovis MLK marches since 1991.

"I liked them all," she said.