A week shy of the birthday of one of America’s most celebrated civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. president Donald Trump has signed a bill changing the activists’ birthplace in Atlanta, Georgia from a National Historic Site to a National Historic Park.
According to the bill’s sponsor, civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., “the upgrade and expansion would dramatically boost how the National Park Service maintains and shares the legacy of King to the public”.
President Donald Trump shared on Twitter that, “it was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the ‘Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act,’….”
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It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the “Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act,” which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018
While the intentions of the president have been called to question – from whether he is trying to change perceptions of him as racist to whether he is a traitor -, one important person in the debate has come out to publicly quell dissent.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, Alveda King, an American evangelist, activist, author, former state representative for the 28th District in the Georgia House of Representatives, and Fox News contributor says the president is not racist and is a big fan of Martin Luther King, Jr.
In a statement to CBN news, Alveda King said the following about the President’s gesture towards her uncle’s legacy:
“I was there on Air Force One, and I was there when the president signed the bill in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., my uncle, making that historic site here in Atlanta, Georgia, where I live, a national park.
And so that (the signing of the bill) was not a racist act, and somebody says, ‘Well, he had to sign it”. Well, he didn’t. Presidents veto bills all the time. President Trump was happy to sign that bill.
And so many times, President Donald John Trump has expressed admiration for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I believe that President Donald John Trump is working very hard to make America great again. And he continues to demonstrate that he wants to do that for all Americans, so the question of racism just doesn’t fit that profile to me.
So do I believe that President Donald John Trump is a racist? No, I do not. And I celebrate 2018 and believing that Americans will come together and lead the world as an example as one nation under God.”
Reactions have been mixed, with some praising the evangelist and others condemning her for her remarks. What are your thoughts?
Can you imagine a wonderful conservative like Martin Luther King jr. Looking at these people today and saying
“for this?…. for this I died? These people don’t represent Martin Luther King. They don’t know the beginning of what he wanted. I’m sure #alvedaking can educate them— Diane Campbell ? (@Dicamp3667) January 10, 2018
Amen & thank you #AlvedaKing for clarification of what #takingaknee means! God bless you! @TeamCavuto @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/zyfzPTOjqL
— Judy Pepenella (@JudyPep) January 9, 2018
Well you ppl teach those black Americans they better think twice before walking off the plantation or else – “#UncleToms“!!!#ClarenceThomas @SheriffClarke @SecretaryCarson @AllenWest #SusanRice, EVEN #AlvedaKing!
Only w Republican #MLK ur too afraid.— 2ttee (@222t) January 10, 2018
