Dr. Alveda King Warmly Received in Elmira

Dr. Alveda King Warmly Received in Elmira
John R. Petrilli
On August 28, 1963, one of modern history’s most powerful and influential speeches was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s moving and memorable “I Have a Dream” speech triggered a civil rights tidal wave that was destined to dramatically and permanently alter America’s cultural landscape. His niece, the renowned Dr. Alveda King, has dedicated most of her adult life to advancing that dream. Dr. King is a Pastoral Associate for Priests for Life and Founder of King for America. She presented two talks in Elmira on September 13th on the theme, “How Can the Dream Survive If We Murder the Children?” Sponsored by Chemung County Right-to-Life, the talks took place at the Notre Dame High School in the afternoon, and at the Clemens Center in the evening. The response from the high-schoolers was enthusiastic, while well over 300 turned-out for the delightful evening rally.

Dr. King graciously granted an exclusive interview with the Good News Paper where she shared her perspective on the impact of abortion on society in general, and the African- American community in particular. Here’s what she had to say.
JP: By way of background, how did you come to be involved in the pro-life movement?
DR. KING: I had many experiences in my life, including two abortions. When I told my grandfather that I was going to have an abortion he told me that it was a human being. A few years ago I found out that my uncle rescued me from abortion because my mom wanted to abort me. I privately repented in 1983 for my own sins. Then I began teaching people how abortion is a violation of their civil rights. My whole testimony is dealt with in my book, “How Can the Dream Survive If We Murder the Children?”, as well as online (priestsforlife.org/African American), or google “how can the dream survive if we murder the children by alveda king”).
JP: Your new book, “How Can the Dream Survive If We Murder the Children?” has a striking title. Please comment on the thrust of the book.
DR. KING: The book is my testimony and provides statistics about Margaret Sanger and her involvement with abortion and genocide. There are two projects that I’m involved with that are very informative, maafa21.com, and bloodmoney.com. “Maafa21” zeroes in on the genocide while “Blood Money” focuses in on abortions in America.
JP: Recent statistics indicate that America now has a prolife majority. How would you like your message to capitalize on this cultural shift?
DR. KING: A few years ago I prayed, “God please reverse Roe v. Wade, You’re God, You can do this.” I heard in my heart from the Lord, “Yes, I am God, yes, I could reverse abortion, but the people’s hearts are too hard, you’ll have to take the long road home”. So I believe we’ve been on the long road home, and I believe we’re headed now for home base, and I believe abortion is over. I believe the cultural shift is the result of prayers to end abortion. I believe it is a season of repentance for those who’ve had abortions as well as those who’ve been a part of a society that’s allowed abortion. The Lord is hearing that, and the blood of the innocents is crying out to the Lord as well.
JP: This year marks the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Based on your firsthand knowledge of the man and his core values, how do you think he would have responded to today’s massacre of the innocents?
DR. KING: We celebrated (MLK’s speech) in August near the new memorial, and we gave honor and glory to God for the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., and that Dr. King obeyed the voice of the Lord. My uncle (MLK) once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ” He said that the Negro can’t win of he’s willing to sell the lives and future if his children for immediate personal comfort and safety. Martin Luther King, Jr. was prolife, like his father and like my father, Rev. A.V. King, who worked very closely with his brother Martin Luther King, Jr. in the civil rights movement of the 20th century. Planned Parenthood tried to co-opt the vision and image of Dr. King but it’s not true, Dr. King was very prolife. You can see much of that information at “priestsforlife.org/africanamerican” under “MLK and Planned Parenthood”.
JP: Your visit to Elmira included a special reception for African –American pastors. How did that meeting figure-in to your objectives for this visit?
DR. KING: African-American pastors across the nation are becoming aware and very involved and active in the prolife movement, we’re very grateful. There have always been African-American voices, pastors and leaders, involved in the prolife movement, as early as the 1960’s. Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were abolitionists who led in the time of slavery and they were also prolife. “blackprolifecoalition.org” is an organization that I participate in as well. There are many African-American leaders who are prolife and we do all that we can to inform members of our community and the community of America at large.
JP: We know that abortion is not racially exclusive. What advice would you give to pastors across the board who struggle with addressing their flock on the delicate yet urgent issue of abortion?
DR. KING: Abortion is not exclusive denominationally or ethnically. There’s one race, the human race. Every community, every ethnic group, every church denomination, every faith group should tell the truth and shame the devil. Abortion kills babies, abortion hurts women, abortion robs men of their future and their destiny, abortion is bad for everyone in society. Abortion is a stench in the nostrils of God. God said to choose life. It’s a message that all pastors and all leaders should embrace. And all human beings should embrace life and choose life.
More info is available at: “kingforlife.org/african American”, as well as “kingforamerica.com”.