Rev. Dr. Bernice King highlighted the significance of ongoing activism in a recent article, reflecting on her late father’s historical opposition to the Vietnam War. Fifty-seven years ago, at Riverside Church in New York City, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a pivotal speech condemning the Vietnam War, which strained his relationship with President Lyndon B. Johnson and drew criticism from civil rights leaders. His message warned of the moral peril facing America due to the conflict, stating that the country’s integrity could not be saved while it continued such destruction.
Rev. Dr. Bernice King draws a parallel to current events, voicing her opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions toward Palestinians, and urging the Biden administration to take decisive action to end the ongoing conflict. She echoes her father’s call for a “genuine revolution of values,” advocating for an ecumenical approach to achieving peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Dr. King expresses gratitude to young Americans who continue the tradition of nonviolent protest for true peace and justice. She emphasizes the importance of presidential leadership in addressing such issues, particularly underscoring the potential impact of Kamala Harris’s presidency in comparison to the threat posed by Donald Trump regarding rights to protest and dissent. Dr. King criticizes Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and his previous use of military rhetoric against domestic dissent, drawing attention to the potential dangers of another Trump administration.
She also emphasizes that the foundational advancements of the civil rights movement were possible due to the freedoms afforded by democracy and the Constitution, both of which are at stake in the upcoming election. Dr. King asserts that Kamala Harris, with her commitment and experience, offers the potential to preserve these democratic values and advance the cause for a just society. While acknowledging discontent with certain aspects of the Biden administration’s foreign policy, she argues that a vote for Harris represents a commitment to democracy and the right to protest, contrasting it with the authoritarian risks of a second Trump term.
Concluding her remarks, Rev. Dr. Bernice King reiterates that the greatness of America lies in its constitutional rights, advocating for continued dedication to the struggle for a new, just world. She positions a vote for Kamala Harris as essential for protecting justice, freedom, and democracy, urging a collective rededication to building a better world.