MLK's Niece Speaks At NOM's Hate Tour

[Emit]

From the NOM Tour Tracker:

In Atlanta, a two-faced NOM: songs of unity while trashing same-sex families

by Arisha Michelle Hatch

We arrived here in Atlanta curious about what direction NOM would go today. Our arrival came on the heels of NOM refusing to allow us or openly affectionate same-sex couples into their rally in St. Louis, MO- having the police act as bouncers forced to make value judgments about the “right kind of people” to be allowed in.

~snip~

Dr. King made a few short remarks.

“I don’t know about you but I’m not ready to be extinct,” King said to the crowd after pointing out that “it is statistically proven” that marriage between one man and one woman is the foundation of society.

~snip~

UPDATE BY ARISHA (1:59 PST): My streak of remaining disengaged as an interviewer was broken today in front of the Capitol building in Atlanta. I’ve interviewed Larry Adams, a NOM rally attendee, that suggested that the solution to homosexuality was lynching; I’ve interviewed a Pentecostal minister, speaking in tongues in Providence; I’ve endured Brian Brown’s spin without flinching.

But today was different.

Five minutes into my interview with Dr. Alveda King (video coming), I began to cry. I was talking about the privileges that I, as a 28 year old African American woman, have received – the privilege of going to integrated schools, never feeling as if my race or my gender were barriers to my success – when I felt my voice begin to break, my body quiver, and my eyes well up with tears.

I don’t know why. I can’t explain it.

She reached her hand out to me, offering something cliche like “you are beautiful.”

“Hold it together, Arisha,” I thought to myself.

Perhaps I was too excited about this interview. Maybe, just maybe, the anticipation of it all got the best of me. Or perhaps, I was sad to see this woman – and the King name – being used as a prop for NOM. Perhaps I expected Dr. Alveda King to actually answer my questions.

Maybe I expected too much from her.

Nonetheless, standing in front of the Capitol steps – interviewing the niece of a hero – and all I could do was cry.

UPDATE BY ADAM (2:38 PST): Here’s the video. It’s incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf-L2He4xww&feature=player_embedded

~snip~

http://prop8trialtracker.com/2010/08/07/in-atlanta-a-two-faced-nom-songs-of-unity-while-trashing-same-sex-families/

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Is this the same niece promoting the myth that MLK was a republican?

She's an idiot. Dr King's kids have all but called her a liar.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Yep, a smear on the King name. I posted pics yesterday.

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8899092

She's a Doctor, of course. Doctor of WHAT?

[Rob H.]

5. According to wikipedia, it's an honorary doctorate in law

from St. Anselm College.

[ellenfl]

3. trading on the king name . . . sad. she said a whole lot

about nothing. i'm happy to hear she does not speak for the king legacy. i don't blame the interviewer for becoming emotional.

ellen fl

[txlibdem]

4. Trying to capitalize on the name

Shameful but widespread.