Entertainment

The FBI tweeted a tribute to Martin Luther King and people were pretty peeved

The civil rights leader was assassinated 49 years ago.
The civil rights leader was assassinated 49 years ago.

Thousands of people have taken to social media to celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King on the 49th anniversary of his death – but not all the tributes were welcomed.

The FBI shared its appreciation of the civil rights leader, tweeting: “Today, on the anniversary of his assassination, the FBI honors the life, work, & commitment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to justice.”

The tweet also included a famous King quote on morality and justice.

While the message was surely shared in good faith, many people weren’t too impressed given the FBI’s controversial relationship with King throughout his life.

It was known to surveil and harass King as part of an “intensive campaign to neutralise and discredit him as an effective civil rights leader”.The bureau even wrote a notorious letter to King which appeared to urge him to take his own life, while the FBI’s first director, J Edgar Hoover, once described him as the “most notorious liar in the country”.That being said, people were perplexed as to why the FBI wanted to honour King now.

It’s not the first time the FBI has ruffled feathers in an attempt to honour King.Earlier this year, it drew criticism when it tweeted on King’s birthday to commend his “incredible career fighting for civil rights”.

King, known for promoting non-violent civil disobedience to help advance the civil rights movement, was assassinated in 1968.