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A Cleveland Civil Rights Trail historical marker was unveiled at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church on Nov. 15. The Cleveland Restoration Society, in collaboration with the Ohio History Connection, placed the marker in front of Olivet, described by its former 33-year pastor, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., as the Cleveland home base for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In his customary measured and deliberate cadence, Moss said, “So Olivet continues today as a landmark when it was dangerous to open these doors and bring in Martin Luther King Jr., and not only on one occasion, but to lead Olivet in becoming the headquarters of Dr. King in Cleveland.”
In brief remarks, Moss provided a history lesson about Olivet and its former pastor, the Rev. Odie M. Hoover. Hoover’s daughters, Carol and Pat, were also central figures in the narrative. According to Moss, Hoover did a politically incorrect thing by inviting Dr. King.
Hoover’s daughter Pat became the youngest staff member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Hoover’s daughter Carole accompanied him to Oslo, Norway to witness Dr. King’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. She became a member of the executive committee of SCLC. She gave remarks about the Civil Rights Trail and took a trip down memory lane that shed light on the history of that moment.
Carol said, “The story of Dr. King and some of the ministers being nervous about having Dr. King at the church for fear of being bombed, that’s a real story. And I remember some of the conversations that took place in this church. And there was not one officer of this church who thought it would be bombed before Dr. King had an office here.
Dr. King’s presence here in Cleveland really contributed a lot, in addition to a healthy community for voter registration and participation which led to the election of both Stokes brothers, Congressman Louis Stokes and Mayor Carl Stokes.”
Cleveland theater professional Prester Pickett delivered King’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech and received a standing ovation.
Obie Shelton, executive director of the Association of African American Cultural Gardens and a violinist, performed two musical selections, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb stopped by to witness the unveiling by Olivet’s pastor, Rev. Jawanza Karriem Colvin, and Pastor Emeritus Dr. Otis Moss.
