<p>Sitting on the spot where her husband preached love, equality and some of his most famous sermons more than 40 years ago, Coretta Scott King reminisced about her marriage, her own role as an activist and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been his 76th birthday.</p><p>Hundreds of people of all ages, colors and backgrounds filled dozens of pews and stood in the aisles Saturday morning to hear the widow of the civil rights icon speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Avenue, where King preached from 1960 until his death in 1968 at age 39.</p><p>"I have many, many memories of being in this sanctuary," Coretta Scott King said during the 30-minute interview, a rare public appearance that was part of the 12th annual Hands on Atlanta Martin Luther King Jr. Service Summit. The event continues through Monday.</p><p>Spoken word performances, acoustic guitar and chants of "Free at last!" combined to stir the audience, creating an aura hearkening back to the freedom rallies activists held before marching for civil rights causes. The diverse crowd _ fitting of the unity Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned _ welcomed Coretta Scott King with a standing ovation and thunderous applause.</p><p>Dressed in a red suit and wearing her signature coif, King told PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley that her husband's message of nonviolence remains especially relevant today.</p><p>"It's as if he were writing for this period. Nonviolence would work today, it would work 2,000 years from now, it would work 5,000 years from now," she said. "If Martin's philosophy had been lived out in Iraq, we wouldn't have bin Laden."</p><p>Since Martin Luther King Jr.'s "moral voice" is missing from today's society, King said, she is committed to spreading her husband's teachings _ a task she said she embraced during her marriage.</p><p>"As we were thrust into the cause, it was my cause, too. I married the man and the cause. I realized I, too, could be killed," she said.</p><p>"When he died, I knew I didn't have his abilities and skills, but I have my own."</p><p>The King Center became her legacy and vision, along with raising her children, King said. Balancing motherhood, marriage, and the movement was a tough act, she acknowledged, saying people often marveled at her life.</p><p>"People thought I was crazy running around the country behind this man, but I didn't know how much longer he was going to be here, so I was there," she said.</p><p>King said she also helped her husband through times of disappointment when he grew weary of his fight for equality, adding that he was frequently depressed when people would riot.</p><p>"I would tell him, 'You're the only one who's making any sense right now,'" she said. "I tried to think of positive, uplifting and true things to say."</p><p>King also offered words of inspiration to audience members looking to serve humankind as her husband did.</p><p>"People have to allow themselves to be used by God if you want to be remembered and have a lasting impact. He is always waiting for someone who is willing," she said.</p><p>Marni Rogers and her 14-year-old mentee Artara Williams said hearing from the artists and activists at Saturday's rally was inspiring and educational.</p><p>"To see her in Ebenezer being interviewed was a historical moment, very moving," Rogers, 34, said.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x286527c)</p><p>HASH(0x2865324)</p>
