The King and Queen of the Netherlands have paid tribute to American civil rights activist, the late Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., on their visit to the United States.
While in Dr King’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited the King Center and met Rev King’s daughter, Bernice King. The couple laid a wreath at the grave of King and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
His Majesty called the visit “deeply moving” and spoke of the “drive for emancipation among people of colour.” He said that it was a story of “pain and anger, but also one of pride, solidarity and the steadfast belief in peace and reconciliation.”
“In the Netherlands, too, the fight against discrimination and racism continues to command our full attention. Martin Luther King inspires us never to give up. His voice continues to resonate even across the Atlantic,” he added.
Afterwards, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church to learn about its significance in the civil rights movement in the United States.
Their Majesties trip to Atlanta also included time with the famous hip hop studio, Patchwerk Recording Studios, which has seen the likes of Beyonce, Outkast and 2Pac record albums. The day also consisted of a tour of the Atlanta BeltLine, a visit to the Atlanta headquarters of NewCold, the High Museum, and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) – the latter to learn about the fight against malaria.
The King and Queen began their visit to the United States on Monday, 10 June, in Atlanta where they were welcomed by Governor Brian Kemp and received a tour of the southern city. They travelled to the coastal and historic city of Savannah on Tuesday, 11 June for more events.
Be the first to comment on "King and Queen of the Netherlands pay tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr."