LANDOVER, Md. – President Bush, criticized for decisions on affirmative action and conservative federal judgeships, said Monday “there’s still prejudice holding people back” from Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams of equality.
The predominantly black congregation of First Baptist Church of Glenarden in suburban Washington welcomed Bush with a standing ovation as it celebrated in song and scripture the memory of King, who would have turned 74 last Wednesday.
“It is fitting that we honor Martin Luther King in a church, because, Gregory, I believe, like you, that the power of his words, the clarity of his vision, the courage of his leadership occurred because he put his faith in the Almighty,” Bush told Gregg Hunter, a teenager who had just read an essay on the slain civil rights leader.
The federal King Day holiday, first celebrated in 1986, is on the third Monday in January.
“It is fitting that we honor this great American in a church because out of the church comes the notion (of) equality and justice. And even though progress has been made, Pastor, even though progress has been made there’s more to do,” Bush said.
As the crowd applauded nearly every sentence, the president added, “There are still people in our society who hurt. There’s still prejudice holding people back. There’s still a school system that doesn’t elevate every child so they can learn.”
“There’s still a need for us to hear the words of Martin Luther King to make sure the hope of America extends its reach into every neighborhood across this land,” he said.
Despite the warm welcome, some members of the congregation said they had trouble with Bush declaring last week his opposition to the University of Michigan’s affirmative action program.
“We need affirmative action,” said Pat Williams, 51, an 18-year employee of the General Services Administration. “I don’t want to try and read someone’s mind, but you can’t stop affirmative action and still honor Dr. King.”
Bush’s visit was part of a national celebration that included:
Introduced by the Rev. William Jones as a “very, very special guest,” Bush brought along his wife, Laura, and several top aides, including National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, to the Baptist church here.
Rice caused a stir Friday when she said race could be used as a factor in school admissions, going farther to show her support for affirmative action than Bush was willing to tread. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news – web sites) said Sunday he disagreed with the president’s opposition to a University of Michigan affirmative action program.
Powell and Rice are black.
Bush’s applause paled in comparison to the cheers that followed Rice’s introduction. She smiled and blew kisses to the crowd from her seat behind Bush.
The cheers turned to shouts when minister Nikkie Pearson sang a hymn in King’s honor. Bush bobbed his head while Rice sang along to Pearson’s refrain: “Precious Lord, lead me on.”
Last month, Bush harshly criticized Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., for remarks that seemed to express nostalgia for the segregation era. Bush’s condemnation helped fuel criticism that forced Lott from his GOP leadership post.
With Lott out of power, Bush surprised many observers this month by renominating Charles Pickering of Mississippi, whose nomination to a Court of Appeals seat last year was blocked by Senate Democrats after civil rights groups questioned his race-relations record.
None of the political machinations were mentioned Sunday.
“We don’t know how you feel about him personally, but he is the president of the United States,” Jones said, to loud cheers.
Bush, who received 9 percent of the black vote in 2000, stood before the congregation and made a pitch for his plans to make more federal money available to church groups and charities that do community service.
“This government of yours must welcome faith, not discriminate faith, as we deal with the future of this great country,” he said.