May 23, 2004
MLK hearse for sale on eBay
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The hearse that carried the body of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after his death is up for auction on eBay.
The car, a 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood, still runs, and is being sold by a St. Louis lawyer for his client, a car dealer.
Presently, there are no museums who have expressed an interest in acquiring the vehicle, and the current bid this afternoon, with under 10 hours remaining, is over $54,000.
My big question is how long it'll take for Coretta Scott "professional black widow" King to demand that she and her family receive proceeds from the sale of the hearse. After all, they seem to feel that the only people who can profit in any way, shape or form from anything even remotely related to Dr. King is them.
Remember, this is the same family that demanded that proceeds from fundraisers tied to a King Memorial in Washington, DC go into their coffers. I'd put nothing above them in this respect.
Posted by mhking at May 23, 2004 02:52 PMYou're right about the King family. Do you know that they are the only family who own a National Monument and get all the proceeds while we taxpayers pay all the bills?
Even the Rev Jackson has to tip his hat to the King's. I wonder how the Pater Familias would feel about it. Do you think he'd be glad that his death made his family rich? or would he mortified?
Posted by: erp at May 23, 2004 04:52 PMOh, I'm sure MLK is spinning in his grave like a top when he sees/thinks of what kind of mockery his wife has made of his memory...
Posted by: mhking at May 23, 2004 05:03 PMNow Michael, ain't you a tad harsh on Mrs. King? "Professional black widow?" But I did chuckle a bit.
ERP: Isn't the proposed Monument on public land but must be built (and later maintained) through private funds? If that's the case, then I don't see how taxpayers play a role here.
I believe the King family is completely within its rights re: the use of Dr. King's image, as I believe that they own the trademark usage. However, if it's for a KING MEMORIAL on the National Mall (i.e., nonprofit use) then they should've backed up.
Posted by: molotov at May 23, 2004 05:05 PMYeah, maybe, but she always seems to be making a profession out of mourning. If it's harsh, so be it.
Posted by: mhking at May 23, 2004 05:36 PMLooks like that hearse should have been scrapped years ago.
Posted by: Interested-Participant at May 27, 2004 03:49 PM