Civil Rights Leader Orange Is Honored

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Associated Press
Sunday, February 24, 2008

ATLANTA, Feb. 23 -- Hundreds of people attended a funeral for the Rev. James Orange on Saturday, remembering the civil rights leader for taking the lessons he learned from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for workers' rights and global equality.

Orange died Feb. 16 at age 65 after suffering complications from surgery.

Those who spoke at the memorial ceremony at Morehouse College's King Chapel included Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and David Scott (D-Ga.), the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Andrew Young and several members of King's family.

Bernice King and Martin Luther King III said that Orange personified the "drum major" instinct their father had talked about.

Looking at Orange's casket, Lewis asked him to say hello to their comrades whom he now joins in death, including Martin and Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Whitney Young and Hosea Williams.

"Tell them we're still working," Lewis said. "We will march with you again."