Martin Luther King Jnr.’s children have gone to court for their father’s bible and Nobel Prize medal reportedly worth millions of dollars. They are expected to appear before Atlanta courtroom on Tuesday as they battle over the slain civil rights leader's tattered personal Bible and Nobel Peace Prize.
Dexter King and Martin Luther
King III have sued
their sister Bernice King for the items, which are in her possession. King's
estate is controlled by Bernice's two brothers, who reportedly want to sell
their father's belongings to a private buyer.
The dispute started not long after President Barack Obama used the Bible during his 2013 inauguration. Bernice was ordered by the estate to turn over the two items and was later sued in Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court when she refused.
In February 2014, Bernice released a statement about the feud over "our father's most prized possessions," explaining how troubling her brother’s actions are.
The dispute started not long after President Barack Obama used the Bible during his 2013 inauguration. Bernice was ordered by the estate to turn over the two items and was later sued in Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court when she refused.
In February 2014, Bernice released a statement about the feud over "our father's most prized possessions," explaining how troubling her brother’s actions are.
"There
is no justification for selling either of these sacred items. They are
priceless and should never be exchanged for money in the marketplace. While I
love my brothers dearly, this latest decision by them ... reveals desperation
beyond comprehension,” according to her.
Martin Luther King Jr. with his son Martin III, wife Coretta and daughter Bernice
Martin Luther King Jr. with his son Martin III, wife Coretta and daughter Bernice
It
should be recalled that they had been in legal battles since 2013. In August
2013, on the 50th anniversary of King's "I Have A Dream" speech, his
estate demanded that Bernice, who is the CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr.
Center for Nonviolent Social Change, stop using her father's image, likeness
and memorabilia. A ruling on that case is still pending.
There
was another case where Dexter sued Bernice and Martin Luther King III accusing
them of taking money from the estate of their late mother, Coretta Scott King
and used it for a business venture.
The
latest suit is connected with the movie Selma, which was based on voting rights
march of 1965 led by Martin Luther King Jnr.
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