King Widow Opens Atlanta Observance

Monday, January 15th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) â€” Coretta Scott King asked Americans on Monday to keep her husband's ``vibrant spirit of unconditional love'' alive by working for peace, justice and economic equality.

The widow of Martin Luther King Jr. opened the annual King Day ecumenical service in the historic sanctuary of Ebenezer Baptist Church by reviewing the accomplishments of ``America's greatest champion of racial justice and equality.''

King, who would have turned 72 Monday, endured threats and beatings and was jailed 39 times during his fight for racial equality and kept on fighting even though he knew he would pay ``the ultimate price'' for his leadership of the civil rights movement, she said.

She called on King's followers to ``get involved in helping to build the beloved community of his dream'' by supporting affirmative action and gun control, opposing the death penalty and racial profiling, living a nonviolent life and urging Congress to pay off the debts of African nations.

``Make your personal commitment to serve humanity with the vibrant spirit of unconditional love that was his greatest strength,'' she said.

The historic sanctuary, where King and his father both preached, was packed for the annual service. Among those attending were Gov. Roy Barnes, Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., and former Republican vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp.

Dozens of visitors from out of town also filled the pews. Jocolby Harrell, 18, of Raleigh, N.C., said he has been coming to Atlanta with his family for the King holiday since he was a child.

``The day means that Martin Luther King Jr. gave all of us the opportunities we have now,'' Harrell said as he waited for the service to start. ``Thank God for King. King paved the way for black people to have the same chances to go to college and pursue their dreams.''

President-elect Bush was marking the day at an elementary school in Houston with Rod Paige, his nominee for education secretary.

Bush planned to address ``the powerful and important role that Martin Luther King played in changing America,'' spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Bush also was highlighting the education proposals of his upcoming administration.

President Clinton planned to join 90 Americorps members in repairing and painting the Greenleaf Senior Center in Washington, his fourth year of participating in a community service project on the King holiday.

Later in the day, Clinton was to speak at the University of the District of Columbia, where he planned to call on Americans of all races to united together through community service.

In Columbia, S.C., hundreds of people gathered for a rally to oppose the presence of the Confederate flag on the grounds of the Statehouse. Although the flag has been removed from Statehouse dome, its presence on the grounds overshadowed South Carolina's first celebration of a regular King Day holiday for state workers, said NAACP official Dwight James.

``That flag is one of those symbols that divides us,'' he said.