The National Park Service says it will begin work on Monday to remove a disputed inscription on the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. Contractors will begin by scaffolding and getting equipment into place.
On July 29 the sculptor, Lei Yixin, will begin to carve grooves over the letters to match existing marks on the sculpture. The original inscription is from King’s “Drum Major” speech. It reads, “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.”
Critics, such as Maya Angelou, argue that the memorial takes the quote out of context and makes King sound arrogant. The NPS says the quotation will be removed in time for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington on Aug. 28.
