The criticisms made by the white clergymen against Martin Luther King Jr. included:
- Opposition to Civil Disobedience
- Call for Patience and Negotiation
- Critique of "Outsiders"
What did the white clergymen say?
The white clergymen expressed their disapproval of the nonviolent civil disobedience tactics used by Dr. King and the activists. They believed that these actions were causing disorder and violating the law.
The clergymen urged African American activists to be patient and to pursue their goals through negotiation and the legal system rather than through street protests and civil disobedience.
They also accused Dr. King and other activists of being "outsiders" who had come to Birmingham to cause trouble and disturb the peace. They questioned why individuals from outside Birmingham were involved in the local civil rights issues.