Sharpton to keynote TOPS event Saturday

By Lance Griffin, Dothan Eagle - National civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton will headline the annual The Ordinary People Society (TOPS) Founders Day and Unity Walkathon Saturday in Dothan.

Sharpton is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a banquet Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Dothan Convention Center.

The banquet will conclude day-long activities that begin at 11 a.m. with a walkathon from the Houston County Courthouse to Kinney Park on Powell Street. TOPS director Pastor Kenneth Glasgow said a lunch will be served for the area homeless, then people will gather to pray for the city of Dothan.

From there, participants will head over to Gussie McMillan Park for an event before ending the day at the banquet.

Also expected to speak Saturday evening is Gabriel Sayegh, state organizing and policy project director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

“The whole point of the day is unity,” Glasgow said. “This is about putting down all of our party lines and issues that try to divide us and unifying together on how we can all work to cause and create a better future for our children.”

TOPS is a non-profit, faith-based organization that focuses on several different areas of community involvement, including working with the homeless, ex-felons and others who are interested in transitioning back into full-time employment.

Admission to the banquet is $50, which Glasgow said will help sponsor a homeless person. Glasgow said more than 50 homeless were sponsored as part of last year’s event.