Lewis, Beck differ over whether rally will be divisive

By Bob Keefe

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

WASHINGTON -- Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck sees his massive "Restoring Honor" rally planned Saturday in Washington as a unifying event that will "reclaim the civil rights movement."

U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta disagrees. Beck's gathering, which will take place on the 47th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic march on Washington, is "an affront," says Lewis, the last surviving speaker at the 1963 event. Lewis says Beck is more divisive than unifying.

"It's an affront to what the civil rights movement stood for," Lewis, 70, said Thursday. The Democratic congressman is one of the most celebrated leaders of the civil rights movement. "We didn't do anything in anger and never tried to divide people," he said.

On the other hand, Lewis said, "Glenn Beck is a very divisive force. I know he's making a lot of money … but he's used his position as one to divide people."

A spokesman for Beck said the Fox News host was not available to answer questions about Lewis' criticism. Instead, he pointed a reporter to Beck's television and radio commentary.

Beck has characterized it as "divine providence" but completely coincidental that his rally is being held on the anniversary of King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where Lewis also spoke on Aug. 28, 1963.

Saturday's event is expected to draw thousands -- including hundreds of Beck fans and supporters who were traveling by bus, car and plane from Atlanta to Washington on Thursday.

"It's not the date, it's the message," Beck said on his television show Thursday.

"I've heard it over and over again in the media that because of [the rally being held] on the date of this event I am somehow hijacking Dr. Martin Luther King's speech," he said. "I'm not big enough to do that -- no one is. I had no idea Aug. 28 was the date of the MLK speech when we booked it."

Beck also has rebuffed critics' claims of racial undertones to his rally and his message.

Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s conservative-leaning niece who lives in metro Atlanta, also is speaking at Beck's rally Saturday. She said the event isn't about politics or race.

"I believe the Beck rally is about black people and white people joining together in faith, hope and love," King said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She also appeared on Beck's show Thursday.

Lewis and others are skeptical.

"Glenn Beck is the same person who has called the president of the United States a racist," Lewis said.

"I think everybody has a right to protest, a right to march in keeping with our Constitution," he said. "But one march, one demonstration on the anniversary of Dr. King's ‘I Have a Dream' speech doesn't change his [Beck's] standing."