LOCAL NEWS

Retired Reverend Davis Continues To Be Force For Change

Jun 1, 2020, 7:00 PM | Updated: Jul 13, 2023, 11:56 am

SALT LAKE CITY — A civil rights legend in our community said this week he hasn’t seen this much civil upheaval, cries for change, and violent protest since the summer of 1968 when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

It was also the time when a young Reverend France Davis was four years away from coming to Salt Lake City.

“I’ve never seen seen anything in Salt Lake City like what we are experiencing now,” said Reverend Davis.

Davis retired as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in December after 46 years of leading the predominantly African-American congregation, but he has remained a force for positive change in the community.

He talked with local leaders regularly in recent days about the serious struggles we’re going through right now.

Reverend Davis said he’s never seen such violent expressions of anger and frustration over racism in Salt Lake.

“In ways that I think are inappropriate, but maybe that’s what it’s going to take to get the larger community’s attention,” he said.

He does not condone violence, and thinks the majority of people protesting downtown Saturday were there to express themselves peacefully, just as Dr. King did when they marched together in the ’60s.

At that time, he believed our country was making real progress.

“Then when Mr. Obama got elected President of the United States, I knew we had arrived,” Davis said. “But it seems that instead of having arrived, we are going backwards more and more.”

He said there are too many issues of racial injustice that America has not adequately addressed yet.

“We have never had the real conversation about race in this society where we’ve tried to come up with some positive solutions,” he said.

He said too many people in our communities want to have a tranquil and peaceful society, rather than deal with the big problems.

“We are ignoring the fact that people of African descent have been treated differently historically in our country, and still are,” said Davis.

How do we vanquish racism, and promote tolerance?

Davis said his message to this community has not changed since he first arrived.

“If the larger community would realize that whatever problems affect us affect the larger community, then we could get some solutions I think,” he said.

What will progress look like?

We need police policies that have been developed not just by law enforcement, but also by people from the outside. When the community has developed those, we will know we are taking steps in the right direction, he said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

5 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

5 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

6 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

8 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

8 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Retired Reverend Davis Continues To Be Force For Change