WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden took his battle for soul of the nation on Sunday morning to the pulpit of the historic Atlanta church that Martin Luther King Jr. once led.
Biden, at a service on the late civil rights leader’s birthday, drew on King’s legacy and called on Americans to follow the minister’s example in order to “redeem” the country and restore faith in its institutions.
“The battle for the soul of this nation is perennial. It’s a constant struggle. It’s a constant struggle between hope and fear, kindness and cruelty, justice and injustice, against those who traffic in racism, extremism and insurrection,” Biden said. “And at our best, the American promise wins out.”
A year after making a forceful appeal for voting rights following a visit to King’s spiritual home, Biden returned to Atlanta on Sunday to pay tribute to the late civil rights leader from his Ebenezer Baptist Church pulpit.
It was Biden’s first trip to Georgia since last January, when he visited Ebenezer and met with King’s family ahead of a speech in support of a series of voting reforms that Democrats are still trying to pass.
He spoke at the invitation of Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who has been senior pastor of Ebenezer since 2005.
“Now there are really too many elected officials here to name,” Warnock said as he opened the service. “Who other than Martin Luther King Jr. can get the president of the United States and everybody else in one place.”
King’s sister, Christine King Farris, Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Biden senior adviser and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are in attendance.
“Mr. President, until the pandemic, she was here every Sunday sitting in that seat. Can you imagine how intimidating it is to stand here and preach with Martin Luther King Jr.’s sister?” Warnock teased, as he introduced Biden. “You get to do that this morning.”
Biden later told her, “And by the way sis, every good man, every good brother needs a really stong, strong sister.”
Warnock, who said he was “inspired” by Biden’s “lifelong commitment to service,” noted Presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have come to the church, but Warnock said Biden is the first sitting president to deliver to deliver a Sunday sermon at the church.
Biden said that speaking to the congregation is “intimidating” and that it was “humbling” to deliver a sermon at the church that once led by King, who he described as one of his two great political heroes. He said his home state of Delaware was segregated and a slave state to “our great shame.”
“Folks, to the King family, I know no matter how many years passed, it doesn’t matter how many years pass, those days of remembrance are difficult. They bring everything back as if it happened yesterday. It’s hard for you,” he said, thanking them. “And we love you all.”
Biden said he came to the church because he believes that King’s legacy can provide direction for the country amid new struggles with democracy and again raised the prospect of enhanced federal oversight of state voting laws.
Lance Bottoms said Friday that the president would talk about the importance of democracy in his remarks at Ebenezer.
“You can’t come to Atlanta and not acknowledge the role that the civil rights movement and Dr. King played in where we are in the history of our country,” Lance Bottoms, the White House senior advisor for public engagement, said at a press briefing. “But we still have to push forward. We still have more work to do.”
“It’s a historical church. Everyone who has preached from the pulpit or sat in the congregation understands that Ebenezer has meant a life of purpose, a reminder to fight for voting rights, equality and justice for all,” said veteran Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
“I would wish that more Americans had an opportunity to go to Ebenezer, not only to sit and listen to the sermons up by the choir,” Brazile said, “but to recommit themselves to the struggle and sacrifice that Dr. King gave his life to make this a better world, to make this a more perfect union.”
Biden delivered his speech at Ebenezer, which boasts a congregation of more than 6,000, on the civil rights leader’s birthday — a federal holiday that will be observed nationally on Monday.
“You should show up and be present at historical moments like that that have real meaning,” said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO…
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