Episcopalians mark 50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Martyr Jonathan Daniels

Friday evening Episcopalians gathered at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Montgomery.

 

“People coming from all over Alabama, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and from all over the country,” said Bishop of the Diocese of ALabama Kee Sloan.

 

They came to honor Jonathan Daniels, a white Episcopalian seminary student. In 1965, he took a bullet for an African American girl, Ruby Sales.

Under the direction of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Daniels  left his home in New Hampshire to come to Alabama to help register African American voters.

 

For those who traveled as far away as New York, it is personal.

 

“So for me, I know I am where I am in the word today because of all the sacrifices particularly of the martyrs as well as the other people that worked in the civil rights,” said Roberta Todd of NY.

 

For some in attendance, they tell us they see hope.

 

“It’s so encouraging to see the young people here. A lot of our young people aren’t fully aware of the things that we went through. I actually lived through the Civil Rights Movement. Growing up in NYC, Brooklyn, I came down South when I got married and I was shocked to see the way people were treated,” said Novella Lawrence.

 

The guest speaker was Morris Dees co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

He spoke about forgiveness and living in peace with one another, while taking lessons from our past.

 

“We need to remember all the chapters of our history. The ones that are glorious and joyful and the ones that are dark and painful so that we can celebrate the human spirit so we can proclaim the love of God to all people,” said Sloan.

 

 

The pilgrimage will take place Saturday, Aug. 15th starting at the courthouse in Hayneville at 11am.