Poor Mrs. King: Fred Phelps AND her own daughter at the funeral...
Tom Dempsey
Taking a page from the Bu$h Junta playbook
EXCERPT: The location of the funeral is also causing a stir among some
black gay activists, including author Keith Boykin, who serves as board
president of the National Black Justice Coalition. Boykin described the
choice of location as a ?final twist of irony? on his blog, noting that
while Mrs. King ?was an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights,? her
youngest daughter and New Birth?s leader are not.
The King family?s youngest child, Bernice King, helped organize a march
<http://www.sovo.com/2004/12-17/news/localnews/church.cfm> in December
2004 with Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Church, to call for
black churches to become more vocal on issues including banning same-sex
marriage, reforming the education and health care systems, and creating
economic opportunities for minorities.
http://washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4974
*Anti-gay church to picket King?s funeral*
Black gay activist notes 'irony' of funeral location
*By DYANA BAGBY | Feb 3, 4:33 PM*
The virulently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas,
announced Feb. 3 that it would picket the funeral of civil rights icon
Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr.
Coretta Scott King died Jan. 30 at a medical facility in Mexico. Her
funeral is set for Tuesday in Atlanta.
Mrs. King?s funeral is set for Feb. 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at New Birth
Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, a suburb of Atlanta, officials
with the King Center have confirmed. It is expected to attract thousands
of mourners.
Westboro Baptist Church, headed by Fred Phelps and known for its ?God
Hates Fags? signs carried at protests, said it is picketing the funeral
because Mrs. King believed in equality for gay people.
Mrs. King's longstanding support for gay issues
<http://www.sovo.com/2006/2-3/news/localnews/king.cfm> included speaking
out publicly against a proposed federal constitutional amendment to ban
same-sex marriage. She was also a vocal supporter of HIV/AIDS awareness.
?WBC has warned Mrs. King for more than 10 year [sic] that by endorsing
the homosexual agenda she was bringing down the wrath of God upon
herself, her family and the black civil rights movement. She is an
ingrate ? unthankful and holy,? the church said in a press release.
Officials with New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, where one of Mrs.
King?s daughters, Rev. Bernice King, is an elder, could not be
immediately reached for comment.
Officials at the King Center said they were unaware of any protest at
the funeral.
The DeKalb County Police Department of Homeland Security did speak with
officials at Westboro Baptist Church about the planned protest, a police
administrator confirmed today. A police department spokesperson did not
immediately return calls seeking comment.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of Fred Phelps, said the church has
been in contact with local authorities and she expects a police presence
at the funeral. Church members will protest in the public right-of-way
near New Birth Missionary Church, she added.
Mrs, King?s body will lie in state at New Birth Missionary Church the
day of the funeral from 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
The location of the funeral is also causing a stir among some black gay
activists, including author Keith Boykin, who serves as board president
of the National Black Justice Coalition. Boykin described the choice of
location as a ?final twist of irony? on his blog, noting that while Mrs.
King ?was an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights,? her youngest daughter
and New Birth?s leader are not.
The King family?s youngest child, Bernice King, helped organize a march
<http://www.sovo.com/2004/12-17/news/localnews/church.cfm> in December
2004 with Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Church, to call for
black churches to become more vocal on issues including banning same-sex
marriage, reforming the education and health care systems, and creating
economic opportunities for minorities.
The march, which began at Martin Luther King Jr.?s gravesite at the King
Center, drew between 20,000 and 25,000 people, according to Atlanta
Police Department estimates.
It is unclear at this time if Bishop Long will preach at the funeral.
http://washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4974