OF F IC E OF T HE M A Y OR
Steven L. Reed, Mayor
Post Office Box 1111 Montgomery, Alabama 36101-1111
PH 334.625.2000 FX 334.625.2600
American icon. Morehouse Man. Shepard to the lost. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was much more than his dream; he was many things to many people. In Montgomery, Dr. King was the young, pioneering minister who would rise to become the conscience of our entire community. He was our national redeemer during a time of oppression, pain and sadness. Besieged by the systemic injustice and claws of Jim Crow ripping through cities and towns far and wide, Montgomery became the first battleground in the Civil Rights Movement. It was here that Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, E.D. Nixon and others ordained Dr. King to lead the movement for change. Fully embracing his role as leader, Dr. King risked much, but his sacrifice ensured America would climb closer to mountain top. As we commemorate his 92nd birthday, we reflect on his impact on our community, brace for the challenges still to come and rededicate ourselves to building bridges to a better future. Dr. King often prophesized about the “Beloved Community.” This vision left our city the blueprint to become a place where all have access to a better tomorrow. Today, our city is steeped in revitalization and reconciliation. Our tourism industry – attributed to Civil Rights touchstones at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the King Parsonage and EJI’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum – continues transforming Montgomery. And even as we embrace the tenets of the knowledge-based economy, evolving into a hightech hub for innovation and job creation, the solid foundation set by leaders like Dr. King will continue to guide our path in the present and the future. We thank Dr. King, Mrs. Coretta Scott King and their entire family for making Montgomery a beacon of hope and change, and we look forward to welcoming each of you on your next pilgrimage to Montgomery – the Birthplace of the American Civil Rights Movement.
Steven L. Reed Mayor
S C LC Nat ional Magaz ine / K I NG 2 02 1
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