RantCrush Top 5: April 5, 2017

Yesterday was the 49th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the FBI tweeted a tribute to the civil rights leader. But considering the FBI consistently fought against King during his lifetime, and there’s a long-held belief by some that the agency actually helped orchestrate his murder, a lot of people were offended and upset.

Today, on the anniversary of his assassination, the FBI honors the life, work, & commitment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to justice. pic.twitter.com/WZInYKQx2g

— FBI (@FBI) April 4, 2017

FBI director J. Edgar Hoover tried to discredit King, and when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, Hoover called him “the most notorious liar in the country.” FBI agents conducted surveillance of King and at one point sent him a letter urging him to commit suicide. People on social media were quick to point to the history between the FBI and MLK Jr. and criticize the “tribute.”

King might be 88 today if FBI had cared more about stopping white terrorists than telling a civil rights leader to kill himself. https://t.co/copCFFBdk9

— Tim Murphy (@timothypmurphy) April 4, 2017

This is disgusting. You made his life hell. https://t.co/8MOY0PpuDL

— Namira Islam (@namirari) April 4, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.