Rev. Martin Luther King Jr might as well be turning over in his grave as the fight between his children escalated to new heights. According to a report by CNN, Bernice King has promised to ensure that the Nobel Peace Prize and traveling Bible of her father will not be auctioned away by her brothers Dexter King and Martin Luther King III. CNN noted that the traveling Bible was used in US President Barack Obama's sworn-in for his second term in office.
Last week, King's sons, who controls the slain civil rights icon's estate, filed a complaint in in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta to force their sister to turn over the items she reported carted away. The complaint, which was filed on Friday, said that Dexter and Martin III agreed to give up their inheritance to the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc, and that the items in question were secreted and sequestered by Bernice.
On Thursday, King's daughter said that her brothers confided in her on January 20 that they wish to secure the items so they could auction them off. However, CNN noted that the complaint has no mention of the potential sale of the items, and that the news outlet failed to get in touch with Dexter and Martin III to confirm Bernice's allegations.
Referring to her mission to safekeep her father's possessions, Bernice said, "I stand here in (my father's) stead as biological and spiritual heir to say these items should never be sold to any person ... or any institution, because they are sacred. We have no right to sell our birthright, nor the birthright of (past and future) generations."
Bernice refused to disclose the location where she had hidden the items for safekeeping, but she expressed her hope that the items could be displayed again in the future. She also said that her reason to fight was not because of sibling rivalry, but by principle.
CNN noted that the latest fight between King's family members is not the first one. The siblings have sued and counter-sued each other over the past years.
