WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE- Rev. Betty Claiborne has lived through the best and worst times of the civil rights movement in America.

As a 19-year old girl she was arrested when she and her sister entered a 'whites-only' swimming pool.

"What I did, I did it because I love America, I love what it stands for, and I love my city," said Claiborne.

Claiborne spent two weeks in jail, and was pardoned decades later, but she says the lessons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. espoused are something we should continue to learn from today.

"In many instances, the people are not heard today, and that amazes me, because at least we were heard," said Claiborne. "Part of us cannot be free, until we all are free."

After watching the President take the oath of office, Claiborne knows America has someone else they can look to for inspiration.

"Martin Luther King, was the king of the spiritual movement, Barack is the rock of where we ought to be now," said Claiborne.