Frankie Pinson speaks to those gathered at Monday morning's wreath laying.

DALTON, Ga. — Arm-in-arm, the marchers — black and white — involved in laying a wreath at the monument honoring Martin Luther King Jr. sang and prayed for a nation united while facing the challenges of a new presidency and the challenges within our own diverse community.

And later Monday morning at a community breakfast to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader on his national holiday, Pastor Charles Catchings implored those in attendance to remain “linked togher” in their unity. 

“In our recent past, there have been things that have caused us confusion and to ask why and where we are going next,” Catchings said to the breakfast at the Mack Gaston Community Center. “There are things that have generated a lot of fear. … Maybe we will leave here this morning with more assurance and less fear.”

Catchings said the election of Donald Trump has caused a divide in the nation, but he knows the nation will persevere and continue on strong as before. He pointed out the diversity of the Congress and of the court system and of leadership throughout the area and said the nation will take strength from that diversity.

“We act like we woke up on Nov. 8 and all that we have accomplished and all the gains had been undone,” Catchings said. “We are acting as if one election undid all of the advances of the last 50 years. … Nov. 8 didn’t take God by surprise. Whatever is to come, the lord God has already given you victory over it. We give the devil too much credit.”

Catchings said the future is in God’s hands and it is up to us to be worthy of the dream the lord gave to King. 

“This is about a dream that God gave to a preacher over 50 years ago,” Catching said. “And it has been the single most driving force in the black community. We should not be in the state of fear and confusion we are in, because the dream is still alive.”