Civil rights should extend to animals not just people

Monday, January 21, 2008 9:24 AM EST

Jan. 15 marked the birthday of Martin Luther King. Democratic presidential candidates are using the occasion to debate his role in this country's landmark civil rights legislation. I find it more interesting to ponder whether his ideals extended beyond African-Americans to all victims of oppression and injustice, including animals.
Dr. King's wife, Coretta, and son, Dexter, became vegans, rejecting all products of animal suffering, including meat, dairy, eggs, leather, and fur. Their opposition to violence extended to the violence perpetrated against billions of innocent, sentient animals in America's factory farms and slaughterhouses. Their passion for justice extended to the most oppressed living beings on the planet - animals bred, abused, and killed for food.

In his letter from Birmingham jail, Martin Luther King cautioned that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ” This message truly resonated with Coretta and Dexter Scott King. I hope that it will do likewise with Dr. King's many other admirers.

Ari Holten

Auburn

The Citizens' Say

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There are 4 comment(s)

Leon Kapowski wrote on Jan 21, 2008 1:35 PM:

" You can ponder MLK's ideals on whether they extended to animals, but unless you KNOW this as a fact, and the real reasons Dexter and Coretta are vegan, using that kind of speculation to push an agenda is disingenuous at best.

I mean, I can ponder whether MLK liked hookers and cocaine, but I don't know this as a fact, so I'm not going to bring it up and use it to change people's minds about something. Speculation isn't proof. "

rd wrote on Jan 21, 2008 10:29 AM:

" I am all for giving animals the write to vote which is a fundamental civil right. The Democrats would love that, they might even grant them drivers license. "

DD wrote on Jan 20, 2008 3:20 PM:

" I have a hard time believing that Dr. King didn't enjoy a nice black angus delmonico steak once in awhile. Animals are put here to serve us. We should treat them in a humane manner, but they are tasty lil critters, so everyone---Enjoy! not to mention---is every person in Dr. King's family a vegan? I guess just maybe his widow and son are the food idiots. "

karl L wrote on Jan 20, 2008 2:47 PM:

" ....sigh.....next? "

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