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NW La. Civil RIghts Pioneer C.O. Simpkins, Sr. Honored

Courtesy: NLCRC

DR C.O.SIMPKINS TRIBUTE -  The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition held a  Living Legend Gala a week ago,  as a special tribute  to Shreveport Civil Rights Pioneer Dr. C.O. Simpkins, Sr.  Hundreds turned out  at the Shreveport Convention Center to celebrate  Dr. Simpkins and acknowledge his past work in civil rights in the late 1950’s and early 60’s,  a focus of which was voting registration and voting rights.  

Keynote Speaker former U.S. Ambassador – Andrew 

Credit Courtesy: KTAL TV
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Courtesy: KTAL TV
(Left to Right) Former US Ambassador Andrew Young, Pastor Harry Blake, Dr. C.O. Simpkins, Sr.

Young, who worked alongside  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,-- Young  took a moment to share some stories about  Dr. Simpkins and his friend and  colleague Pastor Harry Blake, who also worked with Dr. Simpkins to assure voting rights for African Americans  in Northwest Louisiana.

"Harry Blake was running voter registration drives and the sheriff rode horses in his church to intimidate people.," explained Young. "And Dr. Simpkins got run out of town a couple times too. We've all been through a lot."

Pastor Blake was shot at, beaten and jailed by local Police during those  turbulent days.  But Blake credits Dr. Simpkins as being crucial to keeping the civil rights effort alive in NW Louisiana.

Credit Courtesy: NLCRC
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Courtesy: NLCRC
GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH MEETING - Dr. C.O. Simpkins seated next to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (circle inset) when King met with civil rights organizers at Galilee Baptist Church. King visited this church in 1958 and 1962.

"Really Dr. Simpkins is the father of the civil rights movement in this area and we need to give him credit for that," explained Blake.  "When the law was passed that NAACP could not operate in Louisiana Dr. Simpkins changed the name to United Christian Movement and we kept moving on. So he's by rights the father of the civil rights movement in this area."

Dr. Simpkins would be threatened, he had his dental office and home firebombed.   He became friends with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who visited Shreveport’s Galilee Baptist Church and first delivered the famous “I have a Dream” speech.   Although much has been accomplished in race relations,  Dr. Simpkins said there is more to be done.

"We have to know each other better, we've come a long way but we don't hate each other, we just don't know each other," said Simpkins. "When we know each other, we'll be friends. We found a relationship of love.  Love is the most powerful substance in the whole world."

Dr. Simpkins is retired today.  An effort  is underway to restore the old Galilee Baptist  Church where Dr. King spoke many years ago.  It will serve as a Civil Rights Museum, highlighting the work of Dr. Simpkins, Pastor Blake and others who were instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement in Northwest Louisiana.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.