Bernice King recalls day of father's famous speech

Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during a "I Have a Dream" Gospel Brunch at Willard Hotel in Washington Sunday.

WASHINGTON  — The Rev. Bernice King opened the celebration of her father’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech today with an interfaith service in Washington.

King said that her father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is often remembered as a freedom fighter for equal rights and human rights. But she said he was most importantly a man of faith. She says he was a prophet and “faith leader” and it was that “and the spirit of God that infused that movement.”

Bernice King said the faith community must continue to lead every movement for justice and equality.

The opening service today included Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Sikh, and other Christian faith leaders celebrating King’s legacy.

Other speakers are the Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the National Cathedral; Catholic Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington; Rabbi Achonfeld of the Rabbinical Assembly; Imam Mohamed Magid of the Islamic Society of North America and others.