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Andrew Young on 50 years after King’s assassination: ‘It’s as though his spirit has never left’

By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV
By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young says he believes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s presence is still with him.

"There's nothing that I've done and there's nothing that's happened in my life that I can't attribute to the movement of his spirit in our midst."

Young was one of several leaders on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel when King was shot. He says they were not afraid to die because the cause they were fighting for was just. Young says King's death brought him some peace.

"It's as though his spirit has never left."

Young can be seen in a photo in the middle of the screen looking into the distance away from King's slumped body at his feet. He says even though the Civil Rights leader was murdered 50 years ago, he says King's presence has been with him throughout his life.

"There's nothing that I've done and there's nothing that's happened in my life that i can't attribute to the movement of his spirit in our midst."

But Young says King, the eloquent and charismatic leader who disrupted the status quo, shook the white columns of separate but equal. Young says King always anticipated his death. They all did.

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"We were not afraid to die," Young said. "But what I was afraid of was that he would no longer be with us."

Before that shot rang out, before that bullet took king's life, Young says, they were having a great time.
Young spent the day in court, trying to get permission for a Memphis march. He joined King and Ralph David Abernathy at the Lorraine Motel late in the day.

"He was eating catfish and hush puppies. I walked in and they all turned on me," he said. "Where you been? and I said I've been trying to keep you out of jail," Young recalled.

"He (King) picked up the pillow from the bed and threw it at me, well, I threw it back," Young said.
Like school boys rough housing, Young says instigated by King, the Civil Rights leaders had a pillow fight.

"And the next thing you know, he picked up another pillow and so did Ralph and they decided they were going to beat me up with the pillow," Young said. "they finally beat me down between the two beds and piled the pillows on top of me. That was the happiest I had seen them in a long time because all of the problems of the world were just irrelevant at that moment."

That moment -- true happiness.  

"And then billow cows knocked on the door to say my wife is waiting to take us to dinner, we don't want dinner to get cold so hurry up and get ready. And that was it," Young said.

Seconds later, King was gone.  

"I really am sincere and saying I was happy for him and I was mad because he left us. There was no question in my mind, that death was not an end, death was a passage to a new freedom."

It has been 50 years since King was assassinated.

To mark this important anniversary, Channel 2 Action News, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB Radio have teamed up to produce special coverage.

It began with the airing of WSB-TV documentary, "The Last Days of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Channel 2 Action News and WSB Radio covered the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years ago, and now bring you the most comprehensive coverage on the anniversary.

In-depth stories, interviews with witnesses to history, the most extensive archive of photos, audio and video and extensive team coverage of Dr. King's far reaching impact.

It will culminate on April 9, the date five decades ago that the world paused to observe the funeral and burial of King in Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB Radio will reach back into their collective archives to put contemporary audiences in touch with a volatile time in our nation's history.

The AJC is publishing a special section of historic front pages, photos and commentary.

WSB Radio is sharing commentary from legendary voices, speaking to the struggle of time.

Today, Channel 2 Action News will bring viewers live reports from Memphis, Washington, D.C., and here in Atlanta, where thousands are expected to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King.

The extensive archives of Channel 2 Action News, the AJC and WSB Radio includes rare video, photos and reports on Dr. King and the civil rights movement, which will take viewers back to that day.

At 7:01 p.m., the moment King was shot, church bells across the city will ring 39 times for his 39 years of life.

At 8:04 p.m., Channel 2 Action News will hold a moment of silence on-air and across our digital platforms.

Some of the people closest with King will tell their stories and most special memories including his daughter, Bernice King, and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young. They will also talk about how King’s legacy is still having major impact.

Cox Media Group

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