Families of Jackie Robinson, MLK blast Trump for using their images in ad

'Impossible? We treat that word as motivation,' it says, as pics of the sports and civil rights icons flash.

Oct 9, 2020

The campaign to reelect President Donald Trump has released a new advertisement that uses the photos of Jackie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The ad, titled “Say What You Will About America,” uses black and white historical images with an ominous voiceover espousing American exceptionalism. “Impossible? We treat that word as motivation,” the ad intones as pictures of Robinson and King flash.

The families of baseball icon Jackie Robinson (left) and civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. are furious that President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign is using their famous kin’s images in a new commercial. (Photos by Keystone/Getty Images and Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The families of the two civil rights icons are blasting the campaign for using their photos.

“The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in. We’re insulted and demand that his image be removed!” Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, tweeted Thursday.

Jackie Robinson’s family strongly objects to the use of Jackie Robinson’s image in a Donald Trump @JRFoundation The Trump campaign is in opposition to all that Jackie Robinson stood for and believed in. We’re insulted and demand that his image be removed! @realDonaldTrump
— Sharon Robinson (@sharonarobinson) October 8, 2020

King’s daughter, Bernice King, also pushed back about the use of her father’s image, directing a tweet directly at the president: “I find President Trump’s use of my father’s image in his political ad beyond insulting and not reflective of #MLK’s commitment to creating the #BelovedCommunity. My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and value.”

King, who heads up the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, said America needs a leader like her father “NOW.”

I find President Trump’s use of my father’s image in his political ad beyond insulting and not reflective of #MLK’s commitment to creating the #BelovedCommunity. My father should not be used in ways strongly misaligned with his vision and values, @realDonaldTrump. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/7AwySnFFOw
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) October 7, 2020

The Trump commercial accuses an unnamed enemy of trying to destroy the country.

“As we reopen our economy,” it claims, “some folks want to shut us down.” The images turn dark, fears that “they” want “to destroy our traditions” warn watchers, layered over shots of burning stores.

But, the ad says, “we will never surrender America. Don’t bet against us.”

The Trump campaign has not responded to requests of the daughters of the two civil rights icons.

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