M.L. King ally says U.S. holiday an insult

DALLAS, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A Dallas minister who marched with slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. said Monday's birthday observance holiday is an insult to his legacy.

The Rev. Peter Johnson, 62, director of the Texas operations for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, told The Dallas Morning News the holiday should be April 4, the anniversary of the date the Baptist minister was assassinated.

"We have ignored the essence of his life and the horror of his death," said Johnson. "We've allowed white America to escape the guilt of his assassination and we've allowed black America to drift back into a coma."

Johnson said King is considered a martyr by many people but added, if the civil rights leader were alive, he would be considered an agitator by many others, the newspaper said.

"We remember him with parades and galas and banquets, things that are really irrelevant and silly regarding Dr. King's legacy," he said. "If we really want to honor Dr. King, we should do something about people who live under bridges. That would be a great tribute."