President arrives at King's tomb site to lay wreath (and is greeted by protesters)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 1.15.04 | JEFFRY SCOTT, BILL MONTGOMERY and CHARLES YOO

[mhking]

Hundreds of protesters greeted President Bush in Atlanta shortly before 4 p.m. as he placed a wreath on the grave of Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been the slain civil rights leader's 75th birthday.

Buddhists chanting, students beating African drums and others shouting "Bush go home" burst past barriers but were driven back by police who, in an attempt to corral the protesters, parked four MARTA buses between the protesters and the grave site.

One protester held a sign that read "Bush - Zionist, puppet and liar."

Police had said they planned to keep the protestors 500 feet away from Kings crypt but the protesters, teeming just across Auburn Avenue, were much closer and could see the president as he placed the wreath.

A park ranger on the scene earlier warned protesters if they did not keep off Auburn Avenue the president would not come, but Bush appeared right on schedule, at about 3:50 p.m. Bush left the King Center at about 4:05.

Atlanta Police Sgt. Kevin Iosti said two people were arrested for stepping into Auburn Avenue and refusing to move.

Air Force One touched down at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. at 3:23 p.m.

The president visited King's grave while on a campaign trip to Atlanta.

"It's all politics," said barber Seaborn Johnson, as he sliced an apple waiting for customers in the Auburn Avenue Barber Shop. "It's an election year, isn't it? Hell, I would come there too if I was running for office. But the Bush family always opposed everything Dr. King did, so he's just applying for votes, that's all he's doing."

The president's visit, which will include a campaign fund-raiser this evening at the Georgia World Congress Center, has drawn criticism from King event organizers who say that it will disrupt tributes to the civil rights leader on what would have been his 75th birthday.

At an NAACP press conference this morning at the Atlanta chapter's headquarters, the group questioned the true motive for Bush's visit.

Bush contacted the King Center late last week to say he'd be in Atlanta today and wanted to pay his respects by placing a wreath at King's crypt.

"Did he come to raise funds for Republicans and stop by to lay a wreath as a secondary ploy or is he sincere about laying the wreath and the fund-raising secondary?" said Dr. R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP.

"With a spoken position against what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, the Bush administration has stood against -- affirmative action [and refused] to meet with the national leadership of civil rights organizations, including the premier organization, the NAACP, which has been in existence since 1909."

A presidential visit requires tight security, which in this case threatened to force the cancellation of a long-planned tribute to King next door at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Members of the MLK March Committee, who worked with King and planned today's tribute at the church, had complained that Bush might end up ruining the event. They said the daylong tribute with a focus on human rights was supposed to go from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., but that Secret Service agents told them they'd have to empty the church early in the afternoon to allow a security sweep before Bush's 3:45 p.m. visit. But on Wednesday, a compromise was reached. The program can now take place while the president is at the King Center.

Efforts by Bush organizers to coordinate the president's visit so it won't disrupt local celebrations didn't seem to have soothed everybody's feelings.

"I think he takes us black people as a joke," said barber shop customer Willie Tom Franklin, 58. "I wouldn't say he shouldn't come, but he's a little late in coming to Auburn Avenue.

"It's a gesture of respect, him coming to King's grave, but it's not about helping us ... I think it's about feeding off the little people."

Ulysses Crawford, owner of Auburn Avenue Barber Shop, asked, "How long has Bush been in office, three years? And how often have you seen him here?"

Mary Langston, who said she has been homeless since her divorce few months ago, had more positive things to say.

"I'm just a homeless person, but I'm proud he's taking some of his busy time to honor Dr. King," Langston said.

Anthony Bozeman, a former fast food manager, said while at the barbershop that he supported the president's motives for visiting King's grave.

"I don't think it was strictly politics. I think it comes from his heart. Dr. King was a great man, and he showing respect for that," Bozeman said. He added that the invasion of Iraq was "a good job against a man who spent his life torturing and killing his own people."

Johnson, the barber, said the mood on Auburn shifted as the president's advance security team arrived.

"The police and Secret Service were in and out of places around here yesterday, looking around. You could spot the Secret Service, the walk different, they dress different, and they talk different. In fact, they didn't talk much."

There was little traffic, pedestrian or otherwise on Auburn Avenue around 10:30 a.m. Parking meters were covered with plastic and "no parking" signs were plentiful as the secret service cleared the corridor for the presidential motorcade.

The president is expected to arrive in Atlanta this afternoon about 3:20 and get to the King Center for the wreath laying at 3:45.

He is scheduled to speak at the Georgia World Congress Center to raise money for his campaign and leave Atlanta about 7:15.

[Cicero]

"Bush - Zionist, puppet and liar."

MLK had a few problems, but he was basically a sincere Christian and a supporter of Israel. He would not have appreciated having a bunch of anti-Semites pretending to speak in his name.

[Verginius Rufus]

It's unfortunate how many people believe Democratic propaganda without bothering to investigate the facts.

From The Complete Book of American Presidents, by William DeGregorio (4th ed.), on George H. W. Bush:

In 1966 Bush ran as a moderate, stumping in black neighborhoods...His most courageous vote was for the Civil Rights Act of 1968, barring discrimination in the sale and rental of housing. The bill was so unpopular in his conservative district that he began receiving threatening letters. Greeted by an angry white audience at Memorial High School in Houston days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., he called for an end to bigotry and challenged those present to justify denying equal housing opportunity to black soldiers returning from Vietnam. His impassioned plea turned the hall in his favor; he left to a standing ovation.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Looks like the zookeepers were on vacation.

[New Horizon]

*Sigh*

Why does he even bother?

[sirshackleton]

"It's all politics," said barber Seaborn Johnson, as he sliced an apple waiting for customers in the Auburn Avenue Barber Shop.

This guy is right on the money. All these protestors are doing is using the occasion of MLK's birthday as an excuse to beat drums and shout down a President they hate. I'm sure King would be disgusted with such an expression.

[alisasny]

Hundreds of protesters

Is this a bunch who couldnt get on the Michael Jackson caravan? If anything is a discrace to Dr. Martin Luther King it shall be the display in California tomorrow that shows up to praise that miscreant Michael Jackson.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

They would never have any right to call George Bush a racist but would have done so had he NOT shown up!

[BenLurkin]

I don't get it.

What are they protesting? That our President cares about the legacy of Dr. King?

Why or how could that possibly be objectionable?

[Catspaw]

One protester held a sign that read "Bush - Zionist, puppet and liar."

Billy? Billy McKinney, is that you?

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Buddhists chanting, students beating African drums and others shouting "Bush go home" burst past barriers but were driven back by police who, in an attempt to corral the protesters, parked four MARTA buses between the protesters and the grave site.

These "Buddhists" are failing miserbly in their quest for desirelessness. I guess some cannot "let it all go." (you have to want to first)

[Trueblackman]

There are no more traditional civil rights groups anymore, all of them have been hijacked by socialist liberals black Democrats, who are only interested in the illusion of money, power and influence.

[alisasny]

The MJ caravan tomorrow shall be interesting and the funny thing to me is they dont even see the irony of them defending MJ over the good works of MLK.

[theDentist]

Once, just once, I'd love to see him jump up on the limo and flash twin birds at the protesters.... :-)

[Hunble]

Oh darn, I was so excited about the mission to Mars, our victory in Iraq and the recovery of our American economy.

Was this important?

[dc-zoo]

I really don't think Dr King would want his people to be so hateful to their President. It just doesn't make sense.

[Maigrey]

But the Bush family always opposed everything Dr. King did, so he's just applying for votes, that's all he's doing."

I'd love to ask this guy to refute his comment. Instead, he's let off with with a soundbite with no recourse.

[KS Flyover]

Protestors try to hold signs above Atlanta transit buses as police stand on top while President Bush makes a stop at the Martin Luther King, Jr., crypt in Atlanta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2003. The police tried to move the protestors to another area further from the crypt and when they wouldn't move they moved several buses between the protestors and the area. The Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King and his father preached is in the background. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

President Bush participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with King's sister Christine King Farris, left, and wife, Coretta Scott King, center, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

[goodnesswins]

AND....it was mostly DEMOCRATS (including Al Gore's Daddy) who VOTED AGAINST the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1964!

[rocksblues]

bump

[Veggie Todd]

...drawn criticism from King event organizers who say that it will disrupt tributes to the civil rights leader on what would have been his 75th birthday.

And if he would have gone a day early or late, they would have bitched that he didn't show up on the "actual" day. Jeez....