Reverend Jesse Jackson continued his trip in the bluff city Sunday by handing out the prestigious Dream Keepers Award to Pastor James L. Netters of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
The Dream Keepers Award is presented to people who have promoted the principals of Martin Luther King, Jr. in their life.
Netters called the award a wonderful surprise.
“I worked with Dr. King over the years starting in 1963 in Washington and his proud pilgrimage where he made his famous speech ‘I have a dream.’ I was so inspired I came back to Memphis and have been working ever since,” says Netters. “To have this presented to me is one of the great blessings that I’ve received.”
Netters has served as a pastor at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church for 56 years.
Meanwhile, Reverend Jackson also held a press conference Sunday morning at Mt. Pisgah CME Church to talk about the deadly protests in Charlottesville, VA.
“We should be fighting in Virginia and we must fight there for automatic voter registration, coalitions and to learn to live together as brothers and sisters and not die apart as fools,” he says.
Jackson says this is the time for people to come together. Saturday, Jackson toured the historic Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital in the medical district, currently undergoing a $5 million renovation.
