Pastor recalls anger in Lexington after MLK assassination

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- It’s the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In his final speech before being shot, King told a crowd he’d seen the promised land, that he might not get there, but we, as a people, would.

It’s a moment a local pastor remembers well.

When King was assassinated, some people in Lexington wanted to riot. Thomas H. Peoples, Jr. says he put a stop to it.

Peoples has been pastor at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church for 40 years.

“Pleasant Green is the hub of all your civil rights movements in Kentucky,” Peoples said.

He says 50 years ago when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed he rode through Lexington with other civic leaders to calm those who had scheduled riots.

“People were hurt. They were hurt and we all knew that it would be just a matter of time and someone would try to kill him,” Peoples said.

Peoples knew that particularly well because he wasn’t just an observer. He knew Dr. King and his family.

“He was taller than life,” Peoples described.

He says Kentuckians came from all over the state to depart for Washington, D.C. together from Lexington.

“Oh, oh Pleasant Green was buzzing,” Peoples recalled.

It still is. Peoples says in some ways he feels the country has regressed.

“I think Mr. Trump has created an atmosphere that’s almost like it was in the south and we need another Martin,” Peoples said.

He believes King would still be speaking up today about D.C. politics, teachers, and immigrants.

“I don’t think Mr. Trump would’ve been his friend,” Peoples said.

With his friend gone, Peoples wants others to continue taking up his cause so everyone can see the promised land Dr. King spoke about in his final speech.