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My Dad, MLK, Would Back Glenn Beck's Right to Rally

But remember that he rejected 'hateful rhetoric'

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – The son of Martin Luther King Jr. says his father "would be the first to say" that Glenn Beck and his supporters have the right to rally in Washington this weekend—the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech. But he'd like to remind everyone of a few of his father's values: "His dream rejected hateful rhetoric and all forms of bigotry or discrimination, whether directed at race, faith, nationality, sexual orientation or political beliefs," writes MLK III in the Washington Post.

Nor did he ever claim that God was on his side. Instead, "he prayed humbly that he was on God's side." And "throughout his life he advocated compassion for the poor, nonviolence, respect for the dignity of all people and peace for humanity," writes King. That was part of the "social gospel" he embraced—that any worthy religion must be primarily concerned with the "poor and disadvantaged."

A 1963 file photo of Martin Luther King Jr.
A 1963 file photo of Martin Luther King Jr.   (AP Photo, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 42 comments
mcauleysworld
Aug 27, 2010 11:21 AM CDT
I guess freedom of speech and freedom of assembly only exist if you agree with Yahoo, the AP and the far left MSM ... Now, I'm not attending - but I'm shocked by the hate mongering lies in this "Full Story" ... Contrary to what the article states, Beck's site references bus lines in this manner, "The closest Metro stop to the event is Smithsonian on the Orange and Blue Lines. The walking distance from the Smithsonian Metro Station to the event site is almost one mile. You can also take Metrorail to Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West, Metro Center and Federal Triangle stations, all on the Orange and Blue lines. Metro Center also connects to the Red Line. To learn more about the Metrorail system or to plan your route check out the WMATA website.” You can check the Beck website for yourself … The shameful article also implies that Beck & Palin are the only speakers, when in fact; Dr. Alveda King and Marcus Luttrell will also speak. Dr. Alveda King is the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and daughter of the late civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King, Martin Luther King's younger brother. Alfred Daniel Williams King (known as A.D.) was arrested with his older brother and 70 others while participating in the October, 1960 lunch counter sit-in in Atlanta. On 11 May 1963, A.D. King’s family home was bombed.... Marcus Luttrell is a former Petty Officer First Class and United States Navy SEAL, He received the Navy Cross for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings. In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. The foundation's mission is to "Go to extraordinary lengths to Welcome Home, Empower and Restore American Wounded Warriors, their Families and Surviving Families” … Strange that there would be no mention of these speakers or these "facts" in the article...
j e f
Aug 26, 2010 6:04 AM CDT
Things are different now, Eisntein.
red_ox
Aug 25, 2010 7:14 PM CDT
We could all learn some humility from this MLK jr and his son.
 

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