They say, I say

1) You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches, and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. Martin is saying that you need to use direct action frist before they even talk about negotiating.

2) It is unfortunate that the demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, it is even more uinfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative. He is saying yes it's sad that we have to do these demonstrations in your city, but maybe if you gave the African-Americans more rights this wouldn't even be happening.

3) You speak of our activity in Birmingham as extremem. At first I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist. In the beginning he was disappointed, but then he thought about it and he is in the middle. He wants to be nice, but also he has so much anger and hatred built up inside. So he doesn't really care what they think.

4) If you were to see them slap and kick old Negro mean and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food becasue we wanted to sing our grace together. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department. Basically, he doesn't like the police department, and what they do to African-Americans.