Question

I must close now. But before closing I am impelled to mention one other point in your statement that troubled me profoundly. You

warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping "order" and "preventing violence." I don't believe you would have so
warmly commended the police force if you had seen its angry violent dogs literally biting six unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I don't
believe you would so quickly commend the policemen if you would observe their ugly and Inhuman treatment of Negroes here in the
city jail; If you would watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old
Negro men and young Negro boys; If you will observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we
wanted to sing our grace together. I'm sorry that I can't join you in your praise for the police department.
In his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," how does Martin Luther King, Jr. connect the public and private actions of the police?
They are both meant to show nonviolence.
They are both meant to preserve segregation.
They are both meant to avoid punishment.
They are both meant to earn commendation.

Answer 1

B). They are both meant to preserve segregation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Martin Luther King, Jr. was deeply concerned about the injustices held upon the black community. In his 'Letter from Birmingham City Jail', he addresses the actions of police against the black people primarily meant to 'encourage segregation.' He links the public as well as private actions of the police like 'leaving angry violent dogs to bite non-violent Negroes, pushing and cursing the old black women and young girls along with the slaps and kicks to black boys and old men, even denying them food' to highlight the unfair and unjustified treatment to the black community. It clearly implies that they(police) were promoting the preservation of segregation between the black and white communities. Thus, option B is the correct answer.