King niece: 'oppression still remains'

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Alveda King, niece of Martian Luther King Jr., has told a Newsweek interview "today is a better," but "oppression still remains."

King said she believes modern racism is more subtle and economic than that of previous years. However, she said she believes abortion is the most important modern civil rights issue. "I'm post-abortive so I know this, when we abort the child, we violate his or her rights, we as the mothers suffer tremendously, and our families suffer," King said.

She also said she disagrees with King's widow, Coretta Scott King, when she says her husband would have become a gay rights advocate. "There was ample opportunity for him to champion gay rights during his lifetime, and he did not do so."

When asked what she remembered most about her uncle, King said: "His incredible zest for life. He was a very enthusiastic person. He did love the Lord tremendously. He liked to play with the children. He and my dad used to pick us up and throw us up in the air and catch us. He was a delightful person to know. He lived what he taught."