'Sheriff without a gun' visits Simi to honor Dr. King
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

FREEDOM FIGHTER- Dr. Thomas E. Gilmore speaks at Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church on Monday during the church's celebration to honor the birthday of civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Said Gilmore, who marched with King in the Deep South in the early 1960s: "It still is a long road. But we must get on that road and continue to fight against racism." More than 100 people attended the inspirational two-hour ceremony that was marked by performances from the church's vocal, instrumental and dance groups. KYLE JORREY/Acorn Newspapers

The Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church came alive with dance and praise Monday morning as parishioners and guests gathered to celebrate the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

More than 120 people filled the Pacific Avenue church and listened intently while Dr. Thomas E. Gilmore- a former colleague of the renowned civil rights leader- spoke of his past experiences and reminded everyone about King's dream for racial equality.

Gilmore, the first black elected to the office of sheriff in Greene County, Ala., said the battle for equality is "a long road."

KYLE JORREY/Acorn Newspapers HOPE FOR THE FUTURE- Members of Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist's youth choir perform a medley of movement songs during Monday's ceremony.

"It was not a dream that came true overnight," Gilmore said. "But he had a dream nevertheless and knew that one day it would come true. We celebrate his birthday because Dr. King represents to us justice, peace and all the things that God wanted us to have."

In honor of King, whose birthday was declared a federal holiday in 1983, the church hosted a twohour celebration that also included dance performances, a medley of civil rights movement songs, a video presentation and the reading of an original poem by church member Sean Aljuwani.

Church member Shannon Bell reenacted a speech given by Dorothy Height, president of the National Council for Negro Women during the civil rights movement.

"We will have to make diversity more than a slogan," she said. "You have to have a genuine appreciation for people who are different. Racism is not prejudice. It is not bigotry. It is not discrimination. Racism is institutionalized prejudice, and it is in the system. Dr. King was assassinated because he dared to change the system."

During his speech, Gilmore said the same thing about King.

"I stand here today to represent a group of people who made a difference in this world. . . . Dr. King was a man who changed the rules," he said.

Gilmore, a native of Forkland, Ala., became involved with King and his nonviolent civil rights movement after being harassed by a local state trooper in the early '60s. Monday, he recounted the difficulties of the times and the mistreatment he and others faced at the hands of racist segregationists.

"We must remember, wherever we are, we didn't make it on flowery beds of ease," Gilmore said.

Now an ordained Baptist minister, Gilmore served time in jail on several occasions for leading and participating in protest marches.

"There's absolutely nothing nice about jails," Gilmore said. "But when you look at Dr. King as a leader and freedom as a noble cause to fight for, then jails become all right."

Gilmore recalled being jailed with his friend Mary WinnHoward, a current member of the Simi Valley church who organized Monday's event and walked with King during protest marches.

The audience laughed when Gilmore said it was ironic that, after being elected sheriff in 1970, he was in charge of those same jails.

During his 12-year stint with the county, Gilmore never carried a gun and later became known as "the sheriff without a gun."

His story was dramatized in the 1979 movie "This Man Stands Alone," and his character portrayed by Lou Gossett Jr.

Throughout his speech, Gilmore's message was about standing up against violence, honoring those who fought against racial injustice and not letting the dream of equality die.

"They killed a dreamer, but they could not kill the dream," Gilmore said. "Sometimes it's a long road. It still is a long road. But we must get on that road and continue to fight against racism."