Martin Luther King Jr's daughter slams Kellyanne Conway for claiming he would oppose Trump impeachment
Bernice King criticises administration's 'incorrect analysis' of father's legacy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The daughter of Martin Luther King Jr says she wishes Donald Trump's administration would "keep his name, and incorrect analysis, out of their conversations about current issues" after the White House's muddled response to memorial events honouring the late civil rights leader.
Kellyanne Conway , counselor to the president, said she believes Dr King would not support the president's impeachment and claimed that his "vision" did not include "Americans dragged through the process where the president is not going to be removed from office, is not being charged with bribery, extortion, high crimes or misdemeanours".
On Twitter, the president also appeared to compare the anniversary of his swearing-in ceremony to celebrations honouring Martin Luther King Jr Day while he boasted about low unemployment numbers among black Americans.
He said: "It was exactly three years ago today, January 20, 2017, that I was sworn into office. So appropriate that today is also MLK jr DAY. African-American Unemployment is the LOWEST in the history of our Country, by far. Also, best Poverty, Youth, and Employment numbers, ever. Great!"
Bernice King, Dr King's youngest daughter, wrote in response to Ms Conway's comments that "until a person commits to better understanding and then better understands my father's teachings and methodologies, I REALLY wish they'd keep his name, and incorrect analysis, out of their conversations about current issues."
The president did not have any public events scheduled for the federal holiday, but he made a brief unannounced visit to Dr King's memorial in Washington DC, where an annual wreath-laying ceremony took place earlier in the day.
His campaign's Twitter account also juxtaposed images of Dr King with footage of the president appearing with black Americans as part of a fundraising video.
Ms King, who has carried her father's torch in the teachings of nonviolence and racial justice, said during an event honouring the holiday that "rising militarisation of police, the increase of nationalism as a response to the global immigration crisis, the resurgence of white supremacist groups" call for more than a single day to recognise Dr King's legacy.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments