As the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., neared, Lawrence resident Graham Kreicker took a trip down South.

Kreicker, 80, said he spent three weeks in Alabama and walked himself from Selma to the Statehouse before the bulk of the crowd arrived to hear President Barack Obama speak.

Kreicker said civil rights and freedom of speech are important to him. And in today’s world “it’s going to take more than people marching across the bridge to get the issues resolved.”

So when Kreicker heard one of Ecumenical Campus Ministries’ two banners supporting the Black Lives Matter movement was stolen on Saturday, he felt the need to act.

“I don’t want to live in a city, state or country that’s ruled by ruffians,” he said. “It’s something we can’t let get started in Lawrence.”

As a way to put one foot in the right direction, Kreicker said he’s offering a $1,000 reward for “the individual or individuals that provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminals that removed the banner.”

To be fair, and in defense of free speech, Kreicker said he would also be upset if somebody tore down a Confederate flag displayed on private property.

“However, it’s not likely I would offer a reward,” he laughed.

The banners were unfurled on Aug. 28 as a joint effort by 10 area faith groups.

And the fact that so many organizations came together to reach a common goal shows that people in the Lawrence area consider the Black Lives Matter movement significant, Kreicker said.

“Black Lives Matter has a certain number of people who are highly in favor and a minority who are against the concept,” he said. “But if there are 10 congregations all coming together, it means that the people of this community have a certain desire to see that this is put up as a reflection of the struggles we’re having.”

Despite the fact that not everybody feels the same way about Black Lives Matter, Kreicker said — as with political campaign signs — everybody should be able to voice their opinions in an appropriate manner.

“We have to have civil discourse in our society,” he said. “Let’s take the steps to make sure we have that and not let anybody derail it.”

Lawrence Police Sgt. Amy Rhoads said Tuesday afternoon no updates were available regarding the theft.

A Representative from ECM did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment for this story.

“I’m hopeful that our City Commission and law enforcement people will catch on to the fact that we need to get a prompt resolution on this case,” he said.

I report on crime and courts for the Journal-World. I can be reached by email at cswanson@ljworld.com, by phone at (785) 832-7284 or on Twitter @Conrad_Swanson.