Source: Richard Williams Photography / Getty
Naomi King, the sister-in-law of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was viciously attacked outside of her Atlanta retirement home on Friday, WSB-TV Atlanta reports.
King, the wife of MLK’s younger brother Rev. A.D. King and a civil rights activist in her right, was attempting to enter Big Bethel Village, a retirement facility in southwest Atlanta, when a man approached and demanded her car or he would “bust her in the mouth.”
King refused to hand over her keys.
“Before she could say anything, he had hit her in the mouth and was looking to see where her purse was in the car. But he could not see that, so he turned and hit her again and by this time she was screaming,” said King’s friend Lena Morrow.
According to other residents, a man had attempted to carjack another female resident earlier in the evening and they are now requesting that their management, National Church Residency, provide permanent security for their safety.
King released the following statement Saturday afternoon:
“My family, Dr. Babs Onabanjo President of ADKF, and other close friends deeply appreciate your prayers and support. If my beloved AD, my “Boaz” were here, he would encourage us to seek justice rather than revenge. Not an eye for an eye or a fist for a fist.
Yes, there must be justice for this tragic attack. Yet we must seek solutions and opportunities for our youth so that others don’t choose this hopeless path that my attacker sought. This is the mission of the AD King foundation founded in my husband’s honor.
We must care for the young, the sick, the elderly and downtrodden. This is the loving message of Jesus.
In thinking of yesterday, in a way at least what happened to me brings attention those who need a voice. Now we must act.
Again thank you for your prayers. Let us now move forward to build a better community; a better world.”