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(Atlanta, Georgia) Thousands of African Americans marched Saturday to denounce same-sex marriage, invoking the name of slain civil rights leader martin Luther King to the anger of many gays and lesbians.
The march was organized by Bishop Eddie Long whose New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is one of the biggest black churches in the country.
The march set off from the King Center where Dr King is buried and ended with a rally at Turner Field. The unofficial parade count was set at 15,000.
Long avoided direct comments on gay marriage saying his followers "did not come in a march of hatred." But, the message was clear.
The church's website called the march a rally for traditional marriage and proclaims marriage between one man and one woman must be protected.
Long has called for a national ban on same-sex marriage.
Standing with him at the King Center was Bernice King, one of King's daughters who is an elder in Long's church.
Bernice King lit a torch at her father's grave and passed it on to Long, who carried it through the march.
"I believe this day will go down in the history books as the greatest showing of Christ and His kingdom in this century," she said, calling Long and her father prophets.
Her participation in the rally and march illustrated the deep divisions both within the black community and the King over same-sex marriage. Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, has said on a number of occasions that her husband would have supported gay marriage.
"A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing, and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages," she said during a speech last March at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
Today's march also angered gay civil rights leaders who accused Long of hijacking Dr King's memory.
The National Black Justice Coalition, the country's only national gay black organization, issued a statement prior to the march calling it "a slap in the face to the legacy of Dr. King." (story)
"Dr. King said injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, but Bishop Long seems to think that injustice against gays and lesbians is perfectly fine," said NBJC Board president Keith Boykin.
Boykin also noted that one of King's closest advisers, Bayard Rustin, was an openly gay man.
About one hundred protesters demonstrated in front of the King Center as the march began.
"We are vehemently opposed to a mega church, such as Eddie Long's, putting so much effort toward a group of people who exhibit nothing but love when there are so many major issues affecting the African-American community," said Lynn Duhart who came with her partner, Gladys Spencer.
©365Gay.com 2004
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