ATLANTA, GA- Rev. E. Randel T Osburn, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation (SCLF) and 40-year veteran of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, issued the following statement on the death of Mrs. Coretta Scott King:

“We are genuinely saddened by the epic loss of the first lady of the civil rights movement, Coretta Scott King. Coretta epitomized the human rights movement. A native of Hieger, Alabama, Coretta was directly impacted by racism and war and was involved in the peace movement before she met Dr. King. After marrying Dr. King she continued her work, marching alongside her husband for freedom and justice for all.

“After Dr. King’s death Coretta worked diligently to fulfill the dreams the two shared. She was committed to three major goals: she was determined to raise her four children despite the difficulties of being widowed, poor, and female in the sixties; she was devoted to establishing a national holiday in honor of Martin; and, she was steadfast in her efforts to build the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. With grace, class, and great dignity, Coretta not only accomplished her goals, she went on to impact human rights internationally.

“She actively supported a host of national and international efforts including, the struggle for the forgiving of the African debt, the fight to end apartheid South Africa, and the passage of the Hawkins Humphrey Full Employment Bill here in the US.

“A woman of immense sacrifice, Coretta Scott King, a legend in her own right, will be sincerely missed by all. In conclusion, to quote Rev. C.T. Vivian who worked with Dr.King, ‘Martin was the King of the Civil Rights Movement and Coretta was the Queen of the Movement.”