Critics slammed Mike Huckabee’s state pick as ML King Day speaker

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Criticism has erupted over the Martin Luther King Commission of Arkansas choosing former Governor Mike Huckabee to speak at an invitation-only prayer breakfast that is part of the Jan. 17 celebration of the MLK day by the state commission.

The comments started on social media yesterday and were quickly followed by a note from Little Rock activist Dr Anika Whitfield. Then came a letter from the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, which said:

Arkansas Lucky to Have a Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission At its best, this taxpayer-funded state agency is empowered to educate all Arkansans by amplifying the life and legacy of a great minister and American activist who helped advance racial equity in our country.

With that in mind, we write to express our deep disappointment and genuine outrage at the MLK Commission decision to select former Governor Mike Huckabee as a guest speaker for the annual MLK Interfaith Breakfast on Feast of the King on January 17, 2022 at the Governors Mansion.

Mr. Huckabee has demonstrated time and time again that he is not the right speaker to advocate for unity.

During Pope Francis’ visit to the United States in 2015, Huckabee attacked the faith of former President Barack Obama in a TV interview, suggesting that the first African American president was claiming to be a Christian.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Huckabee attacked Black Lives Matter, mistakenly stating that the movement elevates some lives over others and saying Dr King would be appalled by the movement. His offline commentary was quickly denounced by Martin Luther King III who insisted his father would embrace the movement and be very proud for young people to stand up to promote truth, justice and equality. Even more alarmingly, Huckabees claims that the January 6 insurgency on Our Nations Capitol was more of a rally that turned into a riot because of a few bad actors, downplaying the mob violence that threatened our democracy.

And let’s not forget that Mr. Huckabee has publicly shared suggestions for removing voting rights using fraud and trickery.

Dr. King has spent 10 of his last 13 years inspiring the nation to take action for civil rights through non-violence, including the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In fact, the King family called for this year’s King Holiday celebrations to be devoted to supporting the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Given this demand from Dr. Kings’ heirs, Mr. Huckabee’s selection becomes even more difficult to understand.

Finally, the mere fact that the guest speaker is the father of an announced candidate for governor raises the question: why would the Commission politicize a spiritual event this year and at this time when our nation is so divided on the Politics ?

As leaders of this community, we will not sit politely and let this happen without denouncing this choice. We need to empty this event of any positive value and stand up in dignity rather than sitting in silence in frustration. We will not be attending this year’s prayer breakfast. Instead, we will join with allies across Arkansas in honoring Dr. Kings’ legacy by serving our communities. We call on all Arkansans who support our booth to skip the invitation-only event and let the MLK Commission know that they should do better. Call them at 501-683-1300 or email them at [email protected].

We have to do what is right in memory of Dr King and if he was alive today we have no doubt he would agree.

Whitfield said, in part

What an insult for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. to invite Mike Huckabee, a person who left the post of pastor to pursue a career in politics and television. Mike Huckabee has shamelessly used his political and television roles to support the denial of human rights and the systemic oppression of people by enforcing poverty and creating discriminatory laws and policies based on race, religion and identity. His separatist theology and philosophy expressed through his support for voter suppression laws and his outspoken, culturally offensive and critical statements strongly oppose the loving theology and philosophy that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has embodied. in his life and his legacy.

There are several people who continue to carry the torch of Dr. Kings’ brilliant legacy of love through their action who should have been considered and invited to serve as the keynote speaker in a place that includes, rather than excludes, those who want to be inspired by and honor its heritage and movement. There are many national activists and organizers like Reverend Martin Luther King, Granddaughter Jr.s, Yolanda Renee King, Daughter, Reverend Bernice King, Reverend Dr. William Barber, II, Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, The Rev./US Senator Warnock, Dr. Marian Wright Eldeman, Atty Bryan Stevenson, United States Representative Cori Bush and many others whose lives and works honor and respect his legacy.

Whitfield said he added “insult to injury” for the state commission to choose a private high school as the location to hold an “impact day” on the federal holiday.

(The prayer breakfast will apparently be held at the governor’s residence, although the King Commission website does not specify the location. It will not be at the Catholic high school. Catholic school principal Steve Straessle, said he was not invited He said the school will be a gathering place for the day of the service which includes a drive-thru food distribution, a vaccination clinic and a job fair. He will work with student volunteers for the service that day.)

I wrote to Scarbrough twice yesterday about the Huckabee event, the second time with a request for FAITH. He has yet to respond, which the law requires him to do for freedom of information requests.

I’m interested in how Huckabee was chosen as a speaker. Did Education Secretary Johnny Key play a role? Scarbrough’s agency is under the direction of Key. Key is the man responsible for purchasing $ 500,000 worth of faulty COVID comic book brochures under a no-tender deal with a Huckabee publishing company when he could have gotten the same material free from many sources. Is Key playing well to hang on to his job for the expected rise of Huckabee’s daughter Sarah Sanders to the governor’s office? Or does Scarbrough simply bolster his own $ 96,000 a year job by giving The Huckster a starring role.

I was hoping Scarbrough would discuss the choice of such a political figure in an election year in which he is so deeply connected. And I would ask him if he has read some of Huckabee’s recent racist / transphobic comments, such as when he criticized companies that had criticized anti-voting legislation in Georgia.

Huckabee tweeted: I have decided to identify myself as Chinese. Coke will love me, Delta will agree with my values ​​and I will probably get Nike shoes and tickets to @MLB games. Isn’t America great?

I also asked Scarbrough if Huckabee was paid for the appearance and, under JTF, for the list of those who will receive a “special” invitation to the event. I was also interested in choosing the Catholic high school as the venue for the day’s other events.

Huckabee is a man who, along with many other Republicans, stiffened an invitation to attend the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington in which King gave his immortal “dream” speech. Huckabee is a man who has called the King’s Family Day feature John Lews’ advancement bill “dangerous.”

I guess MLK would have seen it differently, even if Dushun Scarbrough doesn’t.

PS: Jonelle Fulmer, the friend of Asa chosen to chair the Republican Party of Arkansas, is a member of the ML King commission. I bet she could line up Mansion for the Huckafest.

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