(photo credit Facebook)
NAACP—Detroit Branch Statement
The late Rev. Dr. Vernon Johns, pastor of the Dexter Ave Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama, succeeded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say “you should avoid hedging, at least that’s what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you have made some contribution to mankind.” Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian for 95 years made contributions to mankind. Dr. Vivian, a civil rights icon, activist, author, social engineer, pastor, preacher, husband, father, friend, and comrade in the struggle leaves a legacy of fighting until you win.
He organized non-violent sit-ins in Tennessee over a decade before demonstrations and lunch counter sit-ins occurred in Alabama or Mississippi. His life serves as a roadmap in the struggle for civil and human rights. As a Lieutenant in the army of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he provided leadership in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. He is also the founder of various civil rights organizations including the National Anti-Klan Network, Center for Democratic Renewal, Vision and the C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute, which raised over $500,000 in bridge funding for Morris Brown College in 2008. Dr. Vivian was also the National Director of over 85 affiliate chapters of the SCLC from 1963-1966. He led in directing training in non-violence, coordinated voter registrations, protest activities, and community development projects. His work provides lifelong examples of his philosophy rooted in the belief that “life is in the doing.” We remember with great appreciation his joining with us in the city of Detroit as we paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 Walk for Freedom, celebrating the 40th Anniversary in 2003. Dr. Vivian was a keynote speaker. He also joined us for Freedom Weekend, sponsored by the Freedom Institute. He was a special guest at the Detroit Branch NAACP’s Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner.
Dr. Vivian will long be remembered for standing up on the steps of the Dallas County Courthouse, where the county seat is in Selma, Alabama. He faced the violent axe handle of Sheriff James Clark as he attempted to register hundreds of black folks to vote in 1965. Knocked down, mouth bleeding, rain pouring down and with verbal threats against his life, Dr. Vivian stood back up. He would not stop. In that very instance he continued to advocate for freedom justice and voting rights. This incident would lead to the eventual Selma to Montgomery March for voter registration and mobilization across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Ultimately, these actions would result in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While he was a Lieutenant in the army of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he shall forever remain a General in the army leading in the fight for justice, dignity, and human rights. The civil rights community sends out its sincere thanks to Dr. Vivian and his family for sharing with all of us the special gift of one of God’s best soldiers. He may be gone but we shall never, ever forget the man we knew simply as C.T. Thank you for enabling America to see her true self, when viewed in the mirror of justice for all of her sons and daughters.
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