LAGUNA NIGUEL : Rose Rebuts City Praise for Struggle of Rev. King

Councilman Eddie Rose, known for his strident criticism of city officials, found a new target at this week’s council meeting--the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Saying King was a communist who today’s youth should not idolize, Rose cast the sole “no” vote on a resolution applauding King’s struggle to bring about social equality for African Americans. The resolution is meant to mark the federal holiday honoring King’s birthday later this month.

The resolution had been on the agenda’s “consent calendar” section--which means it is expected to pass without discussion--so Rose’s strong comments against both the resolution and King stunned Rose’s council colleagues.

“I support the good (King) has done . . . but he had a dubious background,” said Rose, quoting from documents from the 1960s that alleged King was aligned with communist causes.

“It cost King his life to stand up for black people,” countered Mayor Mark Goodman. “In the 1960s, you were probably considered a communist if you thought black people should eat in the same places as white people. . . . I don’t see this (resolution) as a politically correct decision. I see it as a correct decision.”

Councilwoman Patricia C. Bates said King’s support of nonviolence is an especially important message today and that his call for racial harmony needs to be reiterated and revered.

The federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January. But local governments can choose whether to give their employees a day off.

Laguna Niguel City Hall, along with many other city halls in the county, will be open as usual on that Monday.

A group of South County activists have planned several events commemorating King, including a gathering at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Mission Viejo on Jan. 15 and a cultural diversity panel at Saddleback Community College on Jan. 16.

Dimension Cable will air a forum and call-in show on King’s historic importance tonight on Channel 3 at 7 p.m.