LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A recent social media post by comedian Amy Schumer has ignited a conversation about the views of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In a video clip shared on social media, Dr King was seen denouncing antisemitism and supporting Israel's right to exist. However, King's daughter, Bernice King, took to social media to provide clarification, emphasizing that her father, if he were alive today, would have called for a ceasefire.
Bernice King's response to Amy Schumer regarding Israel-Hamas conflict
Directly addressing Amy, Bernice expressed her views on the matter. "Certainly, my father was against antisemitism, as am I. He also believed militarism (along with racism and poverty) to be among the interconnected Triple Evils,” she stated.
“I am certain he would call for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease, for hostages to be released and for us to work for true peace, which includes justice,” Bernice continued. “He said, ‘Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.’ We have much to correct.”
Bernice has been consistent in her calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. On October 28, she tweeted, “I, once again, passionately urge a ceasefire and immediate deployment to Gaza of additional, crucial life-saving supplies at the scale needed. We can’t wait.”
Amy Schumer blasted for her post
Internet users blasted Amy's stance. A user tweeted, "Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and any type of racism is a prejudice that is from the condition mind that aligns with an equal corruption of the heart. As we are in our hearts we are in our actions. To be silent is to participate. All those with a voice must speak against it." Another added, "Stop killing the innocent child's of Palestine."
A third tweeted, "Go on and say something now, you apartheid apologist. You really tried using this man to justify atrocities and now his daughter has to set the record straight." Another claimed, "This is what they always do-co opt Dr. King’s message. I’m glad you pushed back."
"Thank you, and your father, for upholding the values I was raised with as a child of Holocaust survivors: Rejecting all forms of racism & apartheid, and holding to account the powerful - even when they are your own people," read a tweet.
