Black History

Remembering civil rights 'warrior' Shuttlesworth

9:49 AM on 10/06/2011

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In a May 8, 1963 file photo, civil rights leaders, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., left, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, center, and Rev. Ralph Abernathy hold a news conference in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo, File)

"Fred Shuttlesworth was one of the most courageous warriors," Rev. Joseph E. Lowery told theGrio hours after the nation learned of Shuttlesworth's passing at age 89.

Lowery's observation echoed that of Dr. King who wrote in his 1963 book Why We Can't Wait that Shuttlesworth "was one of the nation's most courageous freedom fighters."

theGrio: Civil rights icon Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth dead at 89

According to Lowery, "Fred's courage and conviction and his sense of God's calling him to task made him especially equipped to deal with Birmingham and Birmingham recognized this by naming its major airport (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport) after him."

Thirty-eight-year-old James "Jay" E. Roberson, who serves on the Birmingham City Council said, "It's a sad time not only for the city of Birmingham but for this nation to lose an icon in the name of Fred Shuttlesworth."

WATCH REV. AL SHARPTON'S OF REV. SHUTTLESWORTH:

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After one of the bombings of Big Bethel Baptist Church, across the street from the Roberson family home, in the 1950s, the congregation and neighborhood were enraged and wanted to go after those who had committed the heinous act but Shuttlesworth would not permit it.

Click here to view a Grio slideshow of civil rights hero Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth

"We will not fight," he said. "We will not get involved with violence. This is a peaceful movement and we're going to move forward in peace and pray for those who have done wrong to us," Roberson recalled being told frequently.

This year's "100 Days of Nonviolence" campaign, which launches October 11 and ends on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Monday, January 16, was already dedicated to Birmingham's stellar citizen before his passing. The press conference, in which Dr. King's daughter Bernice King will participate, will be held on the steps of Phillips High School where Rev. Shuttlesworth was brutally beaten by a mob on September 17, 1957 as he tried to desegregate the school by enrolling his children.

Urged by his first wife, Ruby, who passed away in 1971, Shuttlesworth became the pastor of Revelation Baptist Church in Cincinnati in 1961 to get away from the dangers of Birmingham and to provide their four children with better educational opportunities. But that didn't stop Shuttlesworth from traveling back to Birmingham and remaining active. He was a tireless general in the war against injustice.

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"Fred Shuttlesworth was one of the most courageous warriors," "Rev. Joseph E. Lowery":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lowery told theGrio hours after the nation learned of Shuttlesworth's passing at age 89. Lowery's observation echoed that of Dr. King who wrote in his 1963 book _Why We Can't Wait_ that Shuttlesworth "was one of the nation's most courageous freedom fighters." theGrio: Civil rights icon Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth dead at 89 According to Lowery, "Fred's courage and conviction and his sense of God's calling him to task made him especially equipped to deal with Birmingham and Birmingham recognized this by naming its major airport (Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport) after him." Thirty-eight-year-old James "Jay" E. Roberson, who serves on the Birmingham City Council said, "It's a sad time not only for the city of Birmingham but for this nation to lose an icon in the name of Fred Shuttlesworth." WATCH REV. AL SHARPTON'S OF REV. SHUTTLESWORTH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A friend of Roberson's family for many decades, Roberson grew up admiring Shuttlesworth. His grandfather served as an usher in Bethel Baptist Church, where Shuttlesworth pastored. To create a better Birmingham and world for him, his father and aunt frequently went to jail right along with Shuttlesworth. Roberson's family passed down a powerful anecdote about the fiery Shuttlesworth's commitment to nonviolence that continues to inspire him. After one of the bombings of Big Bethel Baptist Church, across the street from the Roberson family home, in the 1950s, the congregation and neighborhood were enraged and wanted to go after those who had committed the heinous act but Shuttlesworth would not permit it. Click here to view a Grio slideshow of civil rights hero Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth "We will not fight," he said. "We will not get involved with violence. This is a peaceful movement and we're going to move forward in peace and pray for those who have done wrong to us," Roberson recalled being told frequently. This year's "100 Days of Nonviolence" campaign, which launches October 11 and ends on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Monday, January 16, was already dedicated to Birmingham's stellar citizen before his passing. The press conference, in which Dr. King's daughter Bernice King will participate, will be held on the steps of Phillips High School where Rev. Shuttlesworth was brutally beaten by a mob on September 17, 1957 as he tried to desegregate the school by enrolling his children. Urged by his first wife, Ruby, who passed away in 1971, Shuttlesworth became the pastor of Revelation Baptist Church in Cincinnati in 1961 to get away from the dangers of Birmingham and to provide their four children with better educational opportunities. But that didn't stop Shuttlesworth from traveling back to Birmingham and remaining active. He was a tireless general in the war against injustice.