SO MITT ROMNEY HAD A DREAM TOO, HUH? Well, having grown up in Detroit, I have vivid memories of the historical event that will definitely shed some light on his questionable “vision” of his father marching with Dr. King. Governor George W. Romney wasn’t there. But I was. I was a college freshman on Sunday, June 23, 1963, when Martin Luther King Jr. lead 125,000 people on what he called at the time, “The Great March on Detroit”. My entire family and I were among the marchers. This demonstration was actually the dress rehearsal for the subsequent March on Washington which was still in the planning stages, and Dr. King used this event to try out his signature “I have a dream” speech in varying octaves and stentorian tones until he got it just right. AN ADDED NOTE OF INTEREST: My cousin, Bernard Lee, was Dr. King’s road manager and personal assistant. (Bernard is the guy you see in all the archival King footage with the horn-rimmed glasses) In fact, several of the SCLC members came to our home for dinner shortly after the march.

Aundra Willis
South Pasadena California

Detroit Free Press: “With Gov. Romney a surprise arrival and marching in the front row, more than 500 Negroes and whites staged a peaceful antidiscrimination parade up Grosse Pointe’s Kercheval Avenue Saturday. … ‘the elimination of human inequalities and injustices is our urgent and critical domestic problem,’ the governor said. … [Detroit NAACP President Edward M.] Turner told reporters, ‘I think it is very significant that Governor Romney is here. We are very surprised.’ Romney said, ‘If they want me to lead the parade, I’ll be glad to.’” (”Romney Joins Protest March Of 500 In Grosse Pointe,” Detroit Free Press, 6/29/63)

I'm sure Gov. Romney will graciously accept your apology. (see previous post)

Ooo! Aundra got p0wned!

But Dr. King wasn't in Grosse Point and Gov. Romney wasn't in Detroit.