Martin Luther King Jr quotes: What do they mean and how do they relate to the riots in Minneapolis?

Publish date: 2024-06-27

MARTIN Luther King Jr. once said, "In the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard."

The King Center, which honors MLK's memory, posted the saying on Twitter on Thursday as the city of Minneapolis burned.

Here is more on the iconic activist and how his words relate to the riots.

What Martin Luther King Jr quote is trending and how does it relate to riots?

Many people are invoking the words of the civil rights pioneer in the wake of George Floyd's death and the unrest that has followed.

Floyd died after a police officer placed a knee on his neck during an arrest in Minneapolis.

Four officers would be fired.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," King once said.

The profound statement by King has been trending on Twitter.

"I will not be silent anymore," one user wrote.

"I am here to spread awareness to all people and to stop racism!I have 1,673 followers and let's see how many will reply; #BlackLivesMatter.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."- MLK, Jr."

“In the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?” pic.twitter.com/Als3jhxaGH

— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) May 28, 2020

Wrote another user: "Remaining silent to protect your interests or other things during events of oppression is just as cruel as the act itself....it’s really sad."

"Like MLK said.... "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."...night Twitter."

Another user wrote "after you have your morning coffee speak up:"

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

What does 'a riot is the language of the unheard' mean?

Reverend King tried to explain the cause of rioting to a mostly white audience at Stanford University in 1967 during his "The Other America" speech.

"Let me say as I've always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating," King said, according to Yahoo.

"But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard."

"And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years.

"It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met.

"And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity."

What has Martin Luther King Jr said about violence and protests?

MLK also said during "The Other America" speech that "as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again."

However, King's message was predominantly one of peace and nonviolence.

He once said that “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

King also said that “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

It was hate that ended his life when King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis.

What are some of Martin Luther King Jr’s other famous quotes?

He once said that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

“Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”

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