(Memphis)— A Memphis city council member apologizes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family for his assassination on behalf of the city. The often flamboyant, and rarely subtle council woman Janis Fullilove is at it again, making an apology that’s the first of its kind for Memphis.
Council member Fullilove tells News Channel 3, the fact that an apology had never been made until now, is pathetic. Her apology had a large audience.
Reverend Jesse Jackson was at Tuesday night’s council meeting to see sanitation workers who led the strike in 1968 be recognized.
“This city has never apologized formally to the King family for the horrific murder, but today, I stand by my colleagues and I will.” expressed Fullilove.
As Revered Jesse Jackson looked on, council member Fullilove delivered an apology urging people to keep the legacy of a civil rights icon who lost his life in Memphis alive, especially now when the whole country is still talking about race. She said part of her speech while wearing a hoodie.
“While we remember Dr. King, let us also remember Trayvon Martin.” said Fullilove.
It’s an apology other council members say, was decades in the making.
“Memphis has such a bad mark on it for the assassination of Dr. King. Alot of Memphians and leaders have been afraid to step up and make the announcement.” said council member Joe Brown.
Fulliove also recognized the city for finally naming a street after King. Memphis is one of the last major cities in the country to do so… Wednesday, on the 44th anniversary of his death, signs on Linden between Wagner and Danny Thomas will change.
“It’s really hard to believe when you think about it, that we didn’t have a street named after him. I think it’s a great honor and a great location because many of his marches were there off Linden.” said council member Jim Strickland.
In Dr. King’s honor, Fullilove hopes the city will continue to become more fair for hundreds of thousands of Memphians plagued with poverty.
News Channel 3 asked for viewer’s opinions on Facebook. An overwhelming number disagree with Fullilove’s apology. One viewer simply said, “The city didn’t kill Dr. King.” Another viewer posted,”That would be like this generation apologizing for slavery.”