We turn now to a speech given by the famous civil rights leader, Reverend James Lawson.

Rev. Lawson is considered to be one of the leading architects of the civil rights movement and was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lawson’s activism began during the Korean War when he was jailed as a conscientious objector. In 1957 he met Dr. King and they joined forces to realize their dream of starting a non-violent mass movement. That same year, Lawson went to Nashville to teach the mechanics of nonviolence to budding civil rights activists. Lawson continued to work with Dr. King until his death.

For 14 years, Rev. Lawson served as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization founded by King to end racial segregation through nonviolent protest. Rev. Lawson is currently pastor emeritus at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles.

Lawson spoke at the United Nations Church Center on December 9, the day before dozens of church leaders marched on the United Nations on International Human Rights day.

Guest:

• Rev. James Lawson, pastor emeritus at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles.