Little Rock community honors Martin Luther King Jr. through 'Unity' service

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Hundreds convened at Saint Mark Baptist Church Sunday to remember late civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.

The service was organized by the City of Little Rock and Mayor Frank Scott Jr.

Unity served as the event's theme in honor of King and his instrumental role in shaping the U.S. during the civil rights movement.

"Dr. King said it this way -- Birmingham 1955. He was accused of disrupting the peace. He said peace is not just the absence of tension. Peace is the presence of justice," said David Featherstone, senior pastor at Greater 2nd Baptist Church.

Mayor Scott noted he hopes to accomplish his campaign promise of establishing unity in Little Rock.

"While we're moving toward this New Year in 2020, we're going to be bolder, we're to be bigger and more decisive on how we focus on uniting our city and true change and true growth," Scott said.

Scott touts the creation of the citizens review board and stresses the importance of community policing. He also emphasized his position on supporting a locally-controlled school district.

"Now we're focusing on at least a half a million dollars on a community school model that will focus on targeted wrap around services for our most needy and challenged children in the Little Rock School District," Scott said.

Community members sang and prayed for a united Little Rock. But it takes continued action and results for that to happen.

"We should not focus on our enemies but those of our friends that remain silent on things that matter. That's a great quote by Dr. King. We'll no longer be silent on things that matter that affect our community, prevent us from being unified," Scott said.

The event featured dozens of speakers including Dr. Charlie Dates, a pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago.