Thousands of religious and political leaders, family and friends packed the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga. Tuesday for the funeral of famed civil rights activist Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. There was at least one face familiar to the civil rights movement, however, who was not in attendance: Julian Bond, University History professor and national NAACP chairman.
Bond, who has served as NAACP chairman since 1998, was teaching in Charlottesville Tuesday and told the approximately 300 students of his "History of the Civil Rights Movement" class why he chose not to attend King's funeral that day. According to several students in the class, Bond said he felt King would oppose the views concerning gay rights held by New Birth's senior pastor, Bishop Eddie Long.
In December 2004, Long and members of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church held a march in favor of a constitutional ban on gay marriage, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
According to second-year college student Emily Frost, who attended the class Tuesday, Bond "said that he chose not to attend the funeral [because] during her life Coretta Scott King very much [pushed] for civil rights not just for African-Americans but also for gays and lesbians."
Frost said Bond explained his absence in terms of his desire to follow King's belief system.
"The church that the service was in has historically marched against gay rights and he felt that she had the choice to promote gay rights, and the church had the choice to go against them, and he was also using his liberty to not attend [something] she would be ashamed of," Frost said.
After the class, Bond discussed his absence in an e-mail to fourth-year College student Carmen Comsti, which gained wide circulation among members of the Queer Student Union. The Cavalier Daily later obtained a copy of the e-mail.
"Mrs. King was a strong supporter of gay and lesbian rights," Bond wrote in the e-mail. "Her husband was a strong believer in helping the poor and preached a theology of contempt for seekers of material goods -- and lived his life that way. The pastor of the church where she was funeralized led an anti-gay march through Atlanta -- sadly, Mrs. King's youngest daughter, an elder in his church, accompanied him. We cannot know what Mrs. King's wishes were for a funeral -- she probably had no choice about church or minister -- but I did have a choice -- and while I have an abiding respect for my former neighbor and friend, I chose not to be in that church."
A spokesperson for the national NAACP office said the organization was not aware of Bond's remarks and had no comment on his decision.
African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner, who is president of the Charlottesville-Albemarle NAACP chapter, also declined to comment on Bond's decision.
"That's his prerogative" not to attend, Turner said.
A number of students from Bond's class said they were impressed with Bond's openness in discussing his decision and his resolve.
"I think it's a wonderful decision that he didn't go for those reasons," Comsti said. "I think it's a very dangerous thing to say here at U.Va. and as the chair of the NAACP. In his position he has gotten a lot of criticism for being pro-gay rights. I think he's doing a really courageous thing."
Blake Wilding, third-year College student and Queer Student Union co-vice president, said he respected Bond's decision.
"When famous activists die, people like to pretend they were apolitical and didn't have beliefs," Wilding said. "Coretta Scott King believed in gay rights. I support Julian Bond's decision not to go."
However, Adrienne Patton, College fourth-year and chair of the Minority Rights Coalition, said that while she appreciated the comment Julian Bond made with his absence, she thought he probably should have attended the funeral.
"I could see where he's coming from," Patton said. "He's obviously trying to make a statement to the black community and that church ... and tell them it's time to start supporting gay rights. I don't know if it's the best thing he could have done. He probably still should have tried to honor her memory and go [to the funeral]. He's probably using this to bring out another part of her memory that these people are trying to forget and push aside."
Bond did not return multiple calls and e-mails for comment. Representatives of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church also did not return multiple calls for comment.
Read More
U.Va. sees 11 percent increase in early decision applications for Class of 2029
By Sophie Long | 4 days agoThe early decision application process is a binding agreement designed for students who have chosen the University as their top choice.
Corner businesses carry on through winter break despite few students on Grounds
By Nina Broderick | 5 days agoNot only are students customers of these businesses, but they are also employees.
Winter storm warning in effect for Charlottesville starting Sunday evening
By Cecilia Mould | 6 days agoReports from the National Weather Service predict that Charlottesville will experience snow, sleet and freezing rain beginning Sunday afternoon and lasting through Monday.
