Martin Luther King III took time out of the day honoring his father to meet with president-elect Donald Trump.
MLK III described the meeting as “very constructive,” however he declined to address whether or not he was offended by Trump’s criticism of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).
via The Hill:
“Well, first of all I think that in the heat of emotion a lot of things get said on both sides. And I think that at some point — I am, as John Lewis and many others, a bridge builder,” King told reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower.
“The goal is to bring America together and Americans. We are a great nation but we must become a greater nation. And what my father represented, my mother represented through her life, what I hope that I am trying to do is always bring people together.”
Trump criticized Lewis over the weekend, calling the congressman “all talk” and “no action” after Lewis said he did not view Trump as a “legitimate president.”
But King disagreed with the “no action” label, saying, “Absolutely I would say John Lewis has demonstrated that he’s action.
“As I said, things get said on both sides in the heat of emotion. And at some point, this nation, we’ve got to move forward,” King added.
When asked what his father, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., would say to Trump, King emphasized the issue of poverty.
“I think my father would be very concerned about the fact that there are 50 or 60 million people living poverty and somehow we’ve got to create the climate for all boats to be lifted,” he said.
Asked if the president-elect had allayed his concerns, King noted that Trump has “said that that he is going to represent Americans.
“He’s said that over and over again. We will continue to evaluate that. The nation supports. I believe that’s his intent. I believe we have to consistently engage with pressure, public pressure. It doesn’t happen automatically, my father and his team understood that, did that.”
On Martin Luther King Jr. day — of all days? Hmm.. Thoughts?
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