Martin Luther King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King paid a rare visit to Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday to commemorate the 56th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s killing.
While in Memphis to support a sanitation workers’ strike, the King family visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s shooting death on his second-floor balcony on April 4, 1968.
This visit, which occurred during an election year, is an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s memory and legacy at a time when history is under attack, according to the King family.
“The triple evils that Martin Luther King Jr. talked about—racism, bigotry, violence, and poverty—the only way that those evils will ever be eliminated is through peace, justice, and equity,” Waters told ABC News. “I would encourage voters to look through the lens of voting for individuals and laws that lift us all up, voting for laws and individuals that are speaking to our noble character that are speaking to peace, justice, and equity that are speaking to community, not chaos.”
The King family’s visit emphasizes what they see as an increase in political violence and hatred in general.
“It is not about violence. It’s about inclusivity. It’s all about participation. MLK III stated that it is important to elect people to government who will serve the interests of their communities. ” Over the years, my father and mother, as well as many other elected people, have taught us how to handle challenges. We may disagree on certain issues, but there are many others on which we should agree. However, we must first establish the necessary climate. It does not originate from osmosis. It occurs when people get together. “It comes from treating others with dignity and respect.”
MLK III observed that there are parallels between today’s campaign for a democratic climate and the 1968 fight for sanitation workers’ dignity.
Last summer, the Kings visited the National Civil Rights Museum as a family for the first time to provide Yolanda, MLK Jr., and Coretta Scott King’s only grandchild with an opportunity to spend meaningful time with her forebears. This is the first time Dr. King’s oldest son, MLK III, and his family have all gathered at the site of his death to commemorate the civil rights warrior.
To commemorate the 56th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, the King family announced Thursday that 16 grassroots programs and initiatives across the country will receive grant funding from the Drum Major Institute, which the King family founded on Dr. King’s ideals, to support their work in democracy.
“In one sense, it’s a dark day,” MLK III remarked during a press conference on Thursday. “But the hope that we must continue to fuse is in this generation and generations yet unborn.”
