After Amy Schumer shared a video clip on social media of Martin Luther King Jr. denouncing antisemitism and defending Israel‘s right to exist, the civil rights icon’s daughter Bernice King took to social media to clarify that her father would have backed a ceasefire if he were alive today.
Addressing Schumer directly, Bernice King wrote on X Tuesday night, “Certainly, my father was against antisemitism, as am I. He also believed militarism (along with racism and poverty) to be among the interconnected Triple Evils.”
“I am certain he would call for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease, for hostages to be released and for us to work for true peace, which includes justice,” King continued.
She added, “He said, ‘Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.’ We have much to correct.”
Bernice King has consistently called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. On Oct. 28, she tweeted, “I, once again, passionately urge a ceasefire and immediate deployment to Gaza of additional, crucial life-saving supplies at the scale needed. We can’t wait.”
Schumer has also been vocal on social media since Hamas’ deadly terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7. The comedian has used her platform almost daily to repost information about the conflict and about the hostages still held by Hamas.
She has faced backlash, however, for posts that have blithely equated Hamas with all Gazans and more obliquely with all Arabs. After Schumer posted a story about Arab countries donating money to Ivy League colleges, civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo tweeted, “Amy Schumer went from Hamas to Gazans to all Arabs really quickly.”
Addressing the backlash, on Oct. 31, Schumer posted on Instagram, “I’m sad to have lost so many friends these last few weeks but feel powerful and free knowing I stand for the truth and will fight for it always. I’m a proud Jewish woman and have every right to be. Head high. Spirits high. Love to my fellow brothers and sisters.”
