Dukakis Vows to Finish King’s Rights Efforts : Visits Landmark Church in South; Speech Focus Put on Fighting Bigotry

Here in a citadel of the civil rights movement, Democratic presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis pledged to “complete the task” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the “true American heroes” of the nation’s bitter racial struggles.

“What better time than now to resolve that we will not rest until every form of bigotry and racism and religious intolerance is banished from this land,” Dukakis told a cheering congregation at the 6th Avenue Baptist Church.

Twenty-five years ago, Dr. King conducted funeral services here for three of the four young girls killed in the Sept. 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. The deaths, and the city’s brutal use of police dogs and fire hoses to battle unarmed protesters, shocked the nation.

Seen as Amends

Dukakis aides admitted the speech, his strongest to date on civil rights, was partially an attempt to make amends for what many saw as insensitivity when he visited another civil rights symbol two weeks ago.

On Aug. 4, at a rally at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., Dukakis made no mention of the discovery nearby, 24 years to the day previously, of the bodies of three civil rights workers who were murdered and buried in an earthen dam.

This time, addressing a mixed black and white audience in the newly rebuilt church, he quoted Dr. King, cited the tragic bombing, and promised to “take our cue on civil rights from people like Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Rev. Joseph Lowery.”

“He’s come a long way from Mississippi to Alabama,” said an apparently relieved campaign aide, who had pushed the visit here. “It was overdue.”

Change in Emphasis

In previous appearances before black groups, Dukakis has stressed his record in providing housing and jobs, offering a message of “economic opportunity for all” but ignoring more emotional issues of racial equality and intolerance.

Dukakis also said he will join the March on Washington this Aug. 27. The event will mark the 25th anniversary of Dr. King’s historic march, when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and told the world: “I have a dream.”

Aides said Dukakis likely will march with the Rev. Jesse Jackson in their first joint campaign appearance since they declared peace at the Democratic National Convention last month.

Although both men announced in Atlanta that they would merge their staffs, Dukakis so far has appointed former Jackson aides to run only two states: Nevada and Utah. About a dozen Jackson aides have been hired for lower-profile positions, however, and Dukakis has met privately with top Jackson supporters in several states.

Busy Campaign Day

The visit here capped a busy campaign day that began in Miami Beach, where the Massachusetts governor and son of Greek immigrants addressed a wildly cheering national convention of Greek-Americans.

At a press conference after his speech, Dukakis repeatedly declined comment when reporters asked his views on the controversy surrounding the military background of Republican presidential nominee George Bush’s running mate, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle.

Asked if he believed one should serve in the military in wartime, Dukakis replied: “I can only speak for myself. I served my country. I did so proudly.”

Dukakis volunteered for the Army in 1955 after graduating from Swarthmore College. He served 16 months in post-war Korea, mostly as a Teletype operator. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Spec. 4.

Dukakis aides rejoiced privately over the GOP troubles, with one staff member happily polling reporters on the campaign plane on whether they thought Bush would jettison Quayle.

Somber Approach

Publicly, Dukakis campaign chairman Paul P. Brountas affected a somber, concerned approach. “We’ll leave it to the American people to decide who made the best decision, who made the presidential decision,” he said.

Brountas said it’s “too early” to know if the controversy will help Dukakis. “I think we need more information,” he said. “I think the American people need more information. I think the Bush campaign needs more information.”

Francis O’Brien, a Dukakis aide who was press secretary to Geraldine A. Ferraro, the beleaguered Democratic vice presidential nominee in 1984, said he was sympathetic to Quayle’s apparent plight. “I’ve been there,” he said.