Despite facing death-threats, Archbishop Iakovos became the only head of a church to publicly support the civil rights movement and walk alongside "his friend," Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma, Ala. After all "it was the Christian thing to do." His action marked a new presence of Greek-Americans in American life, changing positively the perception of the country, and becoming the foundation for a strong friendship between the Greek-American and African-American communities that lasts till today!