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WASHINGTON - Most Americans believe there has been significant progress in achieving Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of racial equality, though blacks are more skeptical, an AP-Ipsos poll found. Racial integration has swept across much of American life and blacks have gained economic ground since the height of the civil rights movement. Two decades ago, the government established a federal holiday in honor of the slain civil rights leader. On some measures such as annual income, blacks have closed the gap considerably with whites over the past few decades, census figures show. The progress for blacks may have stalled, however,...

ATLANTA, Jan. 13 - Over the years, the city that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called home has grown accustomed to stagnation and disrepair at the institution established in his name in 1968, even as it has paid her sons six-figure salaries. Last month, the center's board, controlled by Dr. King's younger son, Dexter Scott King, announced it was considering the sale of the King Center complex, appraised at $11 million, to the National Park Service. That proposal and myriad other difficulties - including a federal investigation into the center's use of taxpayer money and an estimate by...

Founder Boycotts City-Run Parade By Diane Lacey Allen The Ledger LAKELAND -- The woman credited with founding the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Lakeland -- and this year's grand marshal -- plans to boycott the Saturday morning event. Christine Simmons, a feisty 75-year-old who began the parade almost three decades ago with her Boy Scout troop, signed a noncompete agreement in 2004 that allowed the city of Lakeland to take it over this year. But Thursday, Simmons said she was tricked into signing over her rights and never read the document. "They put the paper in front of me...

Al Sharpton: Bush 'Against' Martin Luther King Jr. Former Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton was in New Hampshire Thursday on his first visit since losing in the 2004 primary, but he was coy about whether he'll seek a spot in the 2008 race. "I haven't made a decision either way," he said. "I always think about it." The minister and civil rights activist avoided party politics during a high school assembly to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He encouraged students to further King's legacy of nonviolent activism. "Reach out and learn in your own way to exemplify the...

San Francisco will abandon its Martin Luther King Jr. Day march this year, the first time in more than two decades that the city's tribute to the slain civil rights leader will not include the kind of demonstration that defined him.

San Francisco will abandon its Martin Luther King Jr. Day march this year, the first time in more than two decades that the city's tribute to the slain civil rights leader will not include the kind of demonstration that defined him. The thousands of people who usually march up Third Street from public transit stations and then up Market Street to rally at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium instead will be bused to the noon gathering Monday. Putting participants on Muni was billed as a nod to the late Rosa Parks, who became famous for refusing to give up her...

Hardly a week seems to pass at Yale without some agitation group bringing up charges of grand malfeasance against the University. Exploiting the life of Martin Luther King Jr., a coalition of graduate and undergraduate students, along with local labor leaders, has accused the University of discriminatory practices in its tenure, hiring and graduate student application processes. Two weeks ago, 80 protesters appeared in the Hillhouse Avenue office of Provost Andrew Hamilton demanding to meet with him that very instant. Angered that Hamilton did not stop everything he was doing and entertain this group of unannounced "guests" on the first...

Reevaluating Martin Luther King Jr.'s Holy-Day Taking a Closer Look at the Left’s Patron Saint of Diversity By Brandon D. Ragle, 1-17-05 Today, as I am sure most of you are aware, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A federal holiday celebrating the life and accomplishments of the civil rights leader, renowned as a champion of equality and hero to untold numbers of Americans. Unless you are—God-forbid—a government employee, the chances that you have even given much thought to today’s holiday are slim. While King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is now cemented in the minds of Americans young and...

  What Does a Conservative Do on Martin Luther King Day?  How should conservatives celebrate Martin Luther King Day? We can honor the high-minded, patriotic side of King, who spoke of the American Dream, of a color-blind society that evaluates people on “the content of their character.” That would truly be an aristocracy of merit, a conservative idea if there ever was one. This King was the one calling us back to the ideals of the American Founding and reminding us that its legacy was not fully enjoyed by all. In this view, the Civil Rights Revolution, for which...

It's back. The most important day of the year. More important than the deposed Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, respectively. More important than Columbus Day. More important than Thanksgiving. More important than Christmas. I know what you're saying. How can MLK Day be more important than Christmas? Easy. MLK was the most important person ever to live. Anywhere. Just ask his widow and children. Let's look at the man's accomplishments. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in competition with Jack Kennedy and Wilt Chamberlain for the title of world's greatest womanizer. His favorite male company consisted largely of communists....

Radical Islam Wishes You A Happy MLK Day January 17, 2005 By Debbie Schlussel Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of those images. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon. Especially radical Muslims who support racism, terrorism, slavery, and genocide of Blacks. Since the 9/11 hijackings by Muslim terrorists, radical Muslims have been desperate to rehabilitate their image. Their solution: Hijacking the good name of Dr. King. While the rest of the nation celebrates King Day and King’s contributions to civil rights, a group of Islamists—who praise HAMAS homicide bombers and Hezbollah terrorists who murdered over 300 Americans—held a Martin...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. In an effort to promote a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED) met yesterday to discuss a student-led initiative to cancel classes to commemorate the day. Mahmoud Alban, CORED student team co-chair, said many students face not having time to participate in service activities because of classes during Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day. He added that service activities would benefit the entire community, including State College elementary and high school students, by breaking the stereotypes of college students and minorities....

Lubbock Habitat for Humanity joins national King celebration By RAY GLASS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Lubbock Habitat for Humanity will join a national effort to embrace cultural diversity, celebrate religious solidarity and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. as it breaks ground today for its first "Building on a Dream" house. The 3 p.m. ceremony will be held on Dartmouth Street between North Vernon Avenue and North Avenue U in the Habitat community in North Lubbock. Jean Mallory, Lubbock Habitat church relations director, said construction of the house will begin after the group raises $40,000 and makes the final selection of...

Martin Luther King Day Paul Craig Roberts Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 As time passes, the controversy once associated with Martin Luther King Day fades. People who remember the controversy die, and new generations are only thankful for the three-day holiday. Eventually, people may forget why the holiday is celebrated. King was a brave and courageous person. I agree with him that a person should be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin. To those who stress King’s loose sexual morals, I reply that sin is that for which we ask God’s forgiveness....

President Bush's visit on Thursday to observe what would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 75th birthday isn't sitting well with area tribute organizers. They say Bush invited himself to their party and will potentially force the cancellation of some events due to security concerns. What's more, they say, Bush will profit from a fund-raiser he will piggyback with his visit to Atlanta. About 3:45 p.m., the president will lay a wreath at the late civil rights leader's crypt at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The president announced his visit on Friday. But the MLK...

Tensions rise as council ends meeting early Posted Tuesday, March 4, 2003 - 9:27 pm By Jason Zacher and Ron Barnett STAFF WRITERS Tensions were high in the Greenville County Council meeting Tuesday night after the council adjourned without allowing supporters of the Martin Luther King holiday to speak. Owen Riley Jr./Staff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- e-mail this story -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Online extra • Photo Gallery A protest Tuesday night of Greenville blacks calling for dignity and respect boiled over into racially-charged shouting, barely-controlled chaos and then song, forcing the Greenville County Council to hastily exit the room. More than 500 blacks attended...

Like Digonese carrying a lantern through the streets of Athens in search of an honest man, I have decided to seek out a relatively conservative MLK Day ceremony this year. I have not attended Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities since college, where I was subjected to the scouring gales of political correctness and contemporary liberalism. Now I live in Kansas City, and I am wondering--does anyone know where I might find a ceremony more in the spirit of King's "I Have A Dream" speech and less in the spirit of a Spike Lee Joint?