Written by Amanda Coers – The theme for the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial ceremony was “You Be The Difference.” Local citizens along with city and civic leaders gathered to honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza in Brownwood.

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In his opening welcome, Brownwood Police Chief Terry Nichols encouraged unity within the community through open dialogue and building relationships. In his remarks, Chief Nichols referenced an “Advice for Living,” column piece written by Dr. King for Ebony Magazine in 1958:

“People fail to get along because they fear each other, they fear each other because they don’t know each other, they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

“As a law enforcement professional and your chief of police, this speaks to my heart,” Chief Nichols said. “Many conflicts could be prevented or resolved if we got to know each other before the conflict. I would add to Dr. King’s quote that communicating and getting to know each other builds trust. Being able to trust another person, no matter their position in society, their beliefs, or the color of their skin, is fundamental to a healthy society and community.”

Standing in for Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes, Mayor Pro-Tem Draco Miller relayed his message for the celebration, encouraging the community to be seekers of equality. Local musician Zack Webb was invited to share a song he had written that reflected Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, entitled “Follow.”

Brownwood Evangelism Center Pastor Ken Colegrove offered the tribute address for the celebration. The message Pastor Colegrove shared denounced racism as not only a social and civil issue, but also a spiritual issue.

“Hatred, bitterness, bigotry, racial prejudices are more than just social injustices,” Pastor Colegrove said. “These diseases of the heart and of the spirit are more than just a political problem, a societal problem, or a civil problem. Let me be clear: they are a spiritual problem. Let me be even more candid: they are sins that desperately need the forgiveness of God.”

Pastor Colegrove referenced the Bible throughout his speech during the ceremony and encouraged the crowd gathered to love their neighbors.

“God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son. The black, the brown, the white, the yellow, the red… He loves the world.”