David Oyelowo Delivers Emotional Tribute Speech at Martin Luther King Jr. Service in Alabama

Selma star David Oyelowo gets emotional while on stage at the 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service held at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday (January 19) in Selma, Alabama.

The 38-year-old actor was moved to tears as he spoke of portraying the civil rights legend in Selma.

“I have four children and I cannot imagine walking through life every day knowing there were people on earth who wanted to take my four children’s lives and my wife’s life. And then to leave and go and do it anyway,” David expressed (via The Guardian). “The question I asked myself constantly was: ‘How did he do it?’”

That same day, David and producer Oprah Winfrey, director Ava DuVernay, and “Glory” songwriters John Legend and Common marched together in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.