Bernice King has been chosen as the first woman to head the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization co-founded by her father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
From: www.msnbc.msn.com
ATLANTA - The Rev. Bernice King has been chosen as the first woman to head the civil rights organization co-founded by her father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference announced her election as its eighth president Friday morning. Interim President Byron Clay called King and said she accepted the position.
"In the spirit of your father, Martin Luther King Jr., we look forward with anticipation to your leadership," Clay told King, 46, as reporters listened to his end of the conversation.
"SCLC is a great organization with a rich history," Clay told reporters. "She is excited. I am excited. The nation will be excited."
The 52-year-old organization met for seven hours behind closed doors at its national headquarters in downtown Atlanta on Thursday. General counsel Dexter Wimbish said ballots were tallied by an independent third party and locked in a bag which was locked in a safe. They were unsealed Friday.
