GAINESVILLE – After a decade of inactivity the Gainesville chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is returning to the community.
Since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was instrumental in the founding of the SCLC in 1957, it was appropriate that the MLK holiday be the opportunity for former leader Jeffery Williams to announce the launch the group’s resurrection.
A breakfast membership drive at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Gainesville saw twenty people hear from Williams and Bethel’s pastor, Reverend Evelyn Johnson.
“When Trump (President-elect Donald) won the election that woke me up,” Williams said. “My phone started ringing, I saw people in the street, they said, ‘What are we going to do?’”.
Williams said he feels that eliminating the Electoral College is one of the first goals the SCLC should pursue nationally; that the black vote has lost its effectiveness because of the Electoral College.
When asked what some of his group’s objectives on a local level will be, Williams responded, “One of the things we’re going to do is work with the State of Georgia, the black farmers working with the black churches.”
“We’re going to try to get them (the churches)…to buy the food from the black farmers and sell it to the black community at a low price,” Williams explained.
Williams believes that effort will help fund other SCLC objectives.
Rev. Johnson said that prayer will be the tool most effective in the battle to influence our leaders. She did note that prayer and its effectiveness is something that has been lost in our current culture.
“Prayer is the mover and shaker of God to reshape a generation who knows nothing about Him…but who must learn about Him at this present time,” Johnson said.
Johnson used a term she coined - "kneeology" – to point to the cause of many social ills.
“It is because of the lack of kneeology that trouble is rampant on every side and causes a division and a destructive mechanism for use when we do not use our knees.”
Johnson says after prayer, empowering voters via education will be vital.
“I believe that the power is in the vote,” Johnson said. “Once we get that message across some of the things that we are enduring will not be so evident.”
Williams called for a prayer vigil following the inauguration of President-elect Trump on Friday.
“This Friday I’m asking that all churches and all organizations come together at 5 o’clock at the federal courthouse for a prayer vigil. Let’s pray for the city of Gainesville and the state of Georgia and the country of America.”
