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Tavis Smiley: Obama ‘Dishonoring’ King Legacy With Syria Strike Plan

“On This Week With George Stephanopoulos,”  Tavis Smiley said  Sunday that President Barack Obama and the American government were “dishonoring” Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of nonviolence with their proposed military action in Syria.

“At the risk of being the odd man out, let me just add some broader context,” Smiley said. “Just days ago, we were celebrating fifty years since the March on Washington. President Obama stood where Dr. King stood fifty years ago, and we honored Martin with our words in Washington. Now here we are days away from dishonoring him with our deeds in Syria.”

Stephanopoulos pressed him on this comparison.

“War, Dr. King would say were he here, is not the answer,” Smiley said. “We cannot worship at the altar of retaliation, Dr. King would say were he here. It’s either non-violent coexistence or violent co-annihilation, Dr. King would say were he here. Just like this is connected to Iraq, it’s connected to all of our history.”

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