Thousands emerge for MLK memorial dedication

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By BRETT ZONGKER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of people gathered Sunday to give the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial a proper dedication on the National Mall after its opening in August.

Aretha Franklin, poet Nikki Giovanni and President Barack Obama were among those who honored the legacy of the nation's foremost civil rights leader during a ceremony scheduled to run more than four hours.

The crowd, some of whom came out as early as 5 a.m., included people of all ages and races. Some women wore large Sunday hats for the occasion.

The president arrived late morning with his wife and two daughters, which drew loud cheers from those watching his entrance on large screens. He was to speak from a podium set up with part of the memorial as a backdrop.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20111016/D9QDH6E81.html

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Malia Obama, from left, President Barack Obama, Sasha Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk with members of the King family including Martin Luther King, III, center right, walk through the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

[fasttense]

1. What an awful monument. n/t

[hughee99]

2. Made in China, if I understand correctly. n/t

[zalinda]

5. Too bad they couldn't find an American artist

that was good enough. :sarcasm:

We have starving artists here, but they import Chinese artists? How low can they go?

zalinda

[monmouth]

3. Maya Angelou was noticeably absent, at least to me. She wasn't

too impressed with the monument either and voiced her opinion...Uh oh..

[mahannah]

4. Who approved the design? Who approved the China connection?

[msongs]

6. so that's why it kinda looks like chairman mao lol nt

[zalinda]

7. Ed Jackson

"But it was the artist's 2006 "Contemplation" sculpture that caught the eye of Ed Jackson, the executive architect of the Martin Luther King Foundation, who named Lei the head sculptor for the "Stone of Hope" monument in 2007. "

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/38428/meet-lei-yixin-the-chinese-artist-behind-dcs-new-martin-luther-king-monument/

But, actually, it was probably to save money. The cost was to be 120 million, but they only had 108 million. I'm pretty sure that one of our artists here would have taken on the commission. What a slap to MLK's memory. Ed Jackson should be fired from his 'job'. Outsourcing the MLK monument!

zalinda

[zalinda]

8. To call them and voice your opinion

http://www.mlkmemorial.org/site/c.hkIUL9MVJxE/b.1190565/k.A274/Executive_Staff.htm

[phone]

[rayofreason]

9. Classic example of Socialist Realist style.

Mao would be pleased. I, however, am not.

And I wonder what wages were paid to the workers that dug the stone? What were their working conditions like? Were any political prisoners?

[Odin2005]

10. That statue is FUGLY. Why the fuck did we outsource the job to the fucking CHINESE???