As heated rhetoric and fierce disagreements fly across social media concerning the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, comedian and actor Amy Schumer, who has been strongly pro-Israel, appealed to the words of Martin Luther King Jr. to support her side. That did not go well with King’s daughter, Bernice, who responded to Schumer’s post by highlighting her father’s legacy and how it applies to the current conflict.
On Monday night, Schumer posted a one-minute clip of remarks King made concerning the state of Israel and antisemitism. In a clip of comments made in 1967, he said, “The world must see that Israel must exist and has the right to exist and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world.” The video posted by Schumer then switches to a clip of a speech or sermon given by King, in which he declares to an applauding primarily Black audience that he would “take a stand against antisemitism because it’s wrong, it’s unjust and it’s evil” and declared a similar stance against “bigotry towards Catholics” as well. The tweet is one of several pro-Israel posts made by Schumer in recent weeks.
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) October 31, 2023
On Tuesday night, King’s youngest child, Bernice, responded to Schumer’s post.
“Certainly, my father was against antisemitism, as am I,” she tweeted, adding that her father “also believed militarism (along with racism and poverty) to be among the interconnected Triple Evils.” King stated that she is certain that her father “would call for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease, for hostages to be released and for us to work for true peace, which includes justice.”
🧵 Amy:
Certainly, my father was against antisemitism, as am I.
He also believed militarism (along with racism and poverty) to be among the interconnected Triple Evils.
I am certain he would call for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease, for hostages to be released… https://t.co/haahcqcuAf
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 1, 2023
Later in the thread, King posted a different video, featuring a clip of her father advocating for American troops to withdraw from Vietnam unilaterally and warning against “the danger that any nation will abuse its power,” as he declared the United States had done in Vietnam.
and for us to work for true peace, which includes justice.
He said, “Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”
We have much to correct.
Here is a clip of my father talking about withdrawing from the Vietnam War and “moral power.”#MLK pic.twitter.com/Y0ZMp1K6qa
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 1, 2023
Finally, King urged Schumer to read her father’s 1967 book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?
I encourage you to read ‘Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?’
I mourn with all who are mourning.
I know that we can’t afford to diminish & dehumanize each other if we are truly committed to ridding humanity of the Triple Evils & to freedom from oppression for all. pic.twitter.com/YOEuKe7yKu
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 1, 2023
King’s words come as Israel’s war continues following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israelis in Gaza. Over 8,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed amid Israeli bombings and military operations, with women and children reported to comprise most of that death toll. Meanwhile, 1,400 Israelis have died, most of them killed in the initial surprise attack by Hamas, and over 200 hostages from Israel and other countries remain missing.
Sharp divisions have developed on social media, throughout college campuses and elsewhere. At the same time, antisemitic and Islamophobic threats and violence have grown in the U.S. and various spots around the world since the conflict began. In calling out Schumer and speaking to Martin Luther King Jr.’s entire legacy, Bernice King has shown how her father’s words and principles call for justice for Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians and hold those with the power to conduct war responsible for holding back that power.