King's children say dad's legacy alive

Published: Aug. 28, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

DENVER, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The children of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. told Democratic National Convention delegates in Denver freedom rings in the Rockies.

"Tonight, freedom rings from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado," said the Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the slain civil rights leader. "Tonight, we witness in part what has become of (King's) dream" in the acceptance by Sen. Barack Obama of the Democratic nomination for president, the first black person nominated by a major political party.

"This is one of our nation's greatest defining moments," she said during a tribute to her father.

The final day of the DNC convention fell on the 45th anniversary of the march on Washington that culminated in King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Martin Luther King III said he couldn't help but thinking "how proud my father would be" by Obama becoming the Democratic Party's standard-bearer.

"But my father would be quick to remind us that realizing his dream is not Barack Obama's job alone," King said. "We must all take an active role in democracy. We must do democracy."

King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.

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