MLK’s daughter and two Civil Rights icons take part in Super Bow

Ernie Suggs

Tapping into Atlanta's Civil Rights legacy, Andrew Young, John Lewis and Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., participated in the opening coin toss of the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Bernice King had the honor of actually tossing the coin. The Patriots captain called head. The coin came up tails. The Patriots elected to defer.

Moments before the coin toss, the NFL ran video across the Halo Board of Martin Luther King Jr., along with excepts from his speeches. The video was also included in the live CBS game broadcast.

Lewis, who represents Atlanta in Congress, is known for his role in Civil Rights protests, including the Selma, Ala. voting rights marches. Young, who was an aide to Martin Luther King Jr. , later served as United Nations ambassador during the Jimmy Carter administration, as a member of Congress and as mayor of Atlanta.

Bernice King is CEO of the King Center in Atlanta, which works to carry on the work of her father.

Recommended for you

A significant moment. My mission is #JusticeForAll. Humanity is turning the tide and our efforts must include bridge builders, strategic negotiators and ambassadors. #SuperBowl⁠ ⁠ #Atlanta #BuildTheWill #MLK90⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ pic.twitter.com/TrLfsmzlfX
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) February 3, 2019

2/3/19 - Atlanta - Bernice King, in blue jersey at right, stands next to Andrew Young on the field before the New England Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. (JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM) (JOHN SPINK / AJC/TNS)

2/3/19 - Atlanta - John Lewis and Andrew Young on the field with Jamie Foxx before the New England Patriots play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM (Curtis Compton/TNS)

2/3/19 - Atlanta - John Lewis and Andrew Young before the New England Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM (Curtis Compton/TNS)

2/3/19 - Atlanta - John Lewis and Andrew Young before the New England Patriots play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM (Curtis Compton/TNS)