Black Americans Stand for Israel, Honor Martin Luther King's Legacy in Jerusalem on Street Named for Him

JERUSALEM, Israel – Last week, several hundred African-Americans came to Jerusalem to march down Martin Luther King Street, the city's tribute to the U.S. civil rights leader.

The participants wanted to both honor King's love of Israel and to show they're carrying it forward.  

Dr. King and his wife visited Israel in 1959, and he had hoped to return in the late 1960's with thousands of his people.

Pastor Joshua Giles of Kingdom Embassy Worship Center in Minneapolis told CBN News, "His plan was to bring about 3,000 African-Americans, and he had 600 sign up right away. And unfortunately, he was killed before he could come."

Now, 55 years later, that same number of people journeyed here to march and to help fulfill his dream.

The crowd sang hymns from the civil rights movement, and GIles noted, "It's really kind of a prophetic sign for us, you know, just to see that exact number being fulfilled now in 2023. So it's amazing."

Dr. Glenn Plummer, Bishop to the Jewish people for the Memphis-based Church of God in Christ – where King last spoke before he was assassinated – marvelled at the scene in Jerusalem. "We're standing here, literally, at Martin Luther King Street in Jerusalem," he said. "Most folks have no idea, not only that there's a Martin Luther King Street, but that he was so pro-Israel."

In what would be his final speech, King also referred to his visit to Israel's border, connecting America's civil rights struggle to the Israelites entering the Promised Land.

On April 3, 1968, King intoned, "I just want to do God's will. And He has allowed me to go up to the mountain.  And I've looked over and I've seen the Promised Land.  I may not get there with you.  But I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land."

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who was on hand for the Jerusalem march, pointed out the event's amazing timing – that during the same week, Jews studied in the Torah about Moses leading his people to the Promised Land, yet was unable to join them in crossing over.

"Moses took the Jewish people –.the Israelites – to the border of Israel, but did not get to go in with them himself," she told the crowd. "And that connects to Dr. Martin Luther King, who said 'you're going to go to the Promised Land, even though I may not take you.'   And here we are, that same week, and all of you are here, being in the Promised Land without Dr. Martin Luther King, like the Jewish people came into Israel without the great Moses.  And that, to me, is the most beautiful parallel of all."

Pastor Giles reminded the participants, "It's not a coincidence that you're here, that all of you are here on this ground. Everyone that I've talked to, that came in my group of hundreds of people, have told me that they felt summoned here."  

Giles added, "It was almost like someone was pulling them to come at this specific time, and we all know who that Someone was. I believe that that was the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – literally summoning His people."

Dr. Ruth Plummer of the Church of God in Christ exclaimed, "What an amazing day this is! For truly, this is the day the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing in it."

"I love the fact that these incredible spiritual leaders from the Black community from America and around the world are here in solidarity, in love, in showing us their support on Martin Luther King Street,"Hassan-Nahoum said.

Addressing the Israeli people, Bishop Plummer assured them, "Black America loves you, Black America is standing with you, we're praying for the peace of Jerusalem by the tens of millions. And so we're thrilled to be able to carry this message to Israelis."

Giles confirmed that message. "We love Israel, we support Israel, we support you," he said. "I know there's so much going on in the world, so much hate.  But I just want people to be encouraged that in the midst of all the darkness going on, that there's more light than darkness, and we just wanted to come and add to the light."

It called to mind the words of Dr. King to a cheering crowd more than a half-century earlier: "I'm not worried about anything.  I'm not fearing any man.  Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord." 

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