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President Bush arrived in Atlanta Thursday afternoon for a controversial visit that attracted nearly 700 protesters to the King Center.

Moments after exiting Air Force One at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the president briefly met with Billie Pendleton-Parker, a volunteer for Hands On Atlanta, which coordinates community work with more than 400 schools and companies in the city.

“He didn't ask me any questions, so I felt kind of unsettled. He is the most genuine person I have met,” she said.

Bush talked to Pendleton-Parker for a minute, waved to the media and was escorted away with his motorcade.

As Bush arrived at the King Center just before 4 p.m., the crowd booed and chanted "Bush go home!"

Bush proceeded to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the slain civil rights leader's 75th birthday. He placed a wreath at the King crypt.

The protesters pushed past barricades to close in on the president. The Secret Service set up a zone to keep them some 150 yards from the president. However, protesters who arrived in advance of the president refused to step back to the cordoned-off area and instead set up camp just about 50 yards from the crypt.

Drums beat loudly as protesters chanted "In 2004, Bush no more," and held printed signs that displayed King's image and said "War is not the answer."

Many of the protesters wore T-shirts with the words "one-term president." An effigy of Bush was set afire and had to be stamped out by police.

Police took two protesters into custody and blocked the view of the others with buses.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the president's visit was a way to pay tribute to "Dr. King's legacy, his vision and his lifetime of service."

"This is a way to honor a lifetime dedicated to fighting for equal opportunity and equal justice for all people," he said.

Earlier Thursday, members of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP questioned why the president would come to the MLK crypt now after snubbing civil rights leaders and their causes for three years.

"I.E. affirmative action. (If) the administration is against what Dr. King taught, then how can you lay a wreath as if to say, 'We are with the movement'?" asked the Rev. R.L. White.

But Republican Party leaders in Georgia said the president is doing the right thing by visiting the King Center during what is essentially a campaign fund-raising trip to Atlanta.

"He'll get hit either way but it's something he ought to do and I'm glad he's doing it," said State Sen. Don Balfour. "If he came and didn't do it, they'd argue, 'Well, why didn't you do it?'"

The president then attended a $2,000-a-head fund-raiser at the Georgia World Congress Center just after 6 p.m. (Read Related Story)

Bush left Atlanta around 7:30 p.m.


(The Associated Press contributed to this report).

robfharris,

yanno damned if he didn't damned if he did. it's a sad no win situation. but at a time to honor someone's memory is not the time for that nonsense. it takes away from the honor. Bush didn't go there to disrespect but to pay respects to an extraordinary person. save the dramas for later for a more appropriate time.

just seeing four presidents in one place to honor a black person who lived through so much hate because of southern white hatred was amazing. that alone transcended time and fulfilled part of King's dream. because many blacks have fought the same struggles as the Kings but died unheard of and were placed into unmarked graves.

astonamous,

but Lowery's speech was OFF THE CHAIN!!! (for the suburban white folks in the hizzouse - that's black talk for "the bomb", which is black talk for very moving and good ) very memorable and dignified and respectful of all. I loved when he goes "shaddup Jesse" "shaddup Sharpton". that's old love.

astonamous,
Bush had to know he was walking into "enemy" territory. This is one of the duties of an American president, so when your policies hurt your citizens, you have to know somebody will say something.
This is one of the few times he's been in front of a crowd that wasn't "pre-screened" and hand selected, I'm glad someone threw a "jab" at him... we never know when someone will be given the opportunity to make a comment in front of the president he doesn't want to hear again.

astonamous,

did either of you catch what Clinton started off with? I'm sitting here trying to catch a repeat which was aired during The Situation Room and damn, missed it then too! I was watching the funeral live on TV and via streaming on Yahoo for what CNN interrupted for commercials for. but Yahoo was about 2 minutes behind and unbelievably missed it both times.

he mentioned something about I'm here with our current president and former presidents and something else that sent the crowd into an uproar. or was that it?

by the way, here are some of many jabs at the Bush administration during the funeral. I just have to wonder what Coretta would say if here, because she always did things w/dignity and picked the right times. she was one BAD ASS POWERFUL WOMAN!
http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared ... 45237.html - Bush admin comments'

but damn if I wasn't on my feet at President Carter's comments. OFF THE CHAIN!!!

and where was Myrlie Evers? it wasn't until Atallyah Shabazz (Malcolm X's oldest daughter) spoke -- that wasn't covered on CNN, but live on Yahoo that Myrlie was brought up. her comments also brought many tears as she was crying herself throughout her words.

aaaah, I finally saw it on The Situation Room.

so when Pres. Clinton said "and..." and paused after saying "current president, former presidents" maybe people were thinking he was going to say "future president"

and lots of chattering in the seats behind Clinton huh, just noticed that too. I guess only a trained lip reader would know what was said. ;p

astonamous,

Bush ate at Taco Belle???

tamra,
Someone yelled out "...and future!!!"

I know a lot of people don't feel it was appropriate to make a statement against President Bush's policies, but do you think Mrs. King agreed with many of the President's policies?
This was a wonderful example of non-violent protest. In the African-American community death has been a "spark" for positive change. As Rev & Mrs. King's daughter (Elder Bernice King) summed up, death offers opportunities for change. Maybe we are being given a second chance, if we don't take advantage of this there is no telling when we may have another.
There has to be a change in this country, it's not about politics, it's not about race or class... but about what's right. It's not just about Bush, did anyone notice how many Civil Right's leaders from the 60's are still alive and not invited to speak. Because a lot of them "sold out" and gave up.
Things need to fixed on every level, from the bottom up. Hopefully, today will not only cause debate but action.

robfharris,

yeah you definitely had a point there. it was definitely a captive audience. however, my concern is after the event is officially over, things will become status quo again *sigh* powerful words were said, but what happens tomorrow? and that even includes Lowery.

and I can imagine why many leaders didn't step up. first the murders of the leaders, then the degradation of our own communities from w/in. it's a never ending battle inside and outside.

Coretta's days served a purpose. I look at women around me to compare someone even remotely similar to Coretta. many are afraid to speak, many speak by being hoochies, hoodrats or ghetto fab, many speak w/their money which is spent on ridiculous nonsense, many speak through their low-self esteem selection of men (men who just don't care and drag them to a low place in life). it's sad.

deepseas,

Carter's comments definitely needed to be said as it was a direct reflection of what Coretta worked tirelessly for.

and the way he said it. absolutely powerful. and coming from a President of the United States should have made everyone take notice, esp. all the Senators who were staring right up at him while he was speaking, esp. those who voted down levee funding and other spending to cozy up to some other nonsense. remember Pimp My Congress

everything said needs to be furthered directly through action to back it up.

and the one thing that stood out for me: President Clinton was just talking, talking like he's talking to friends he cares about. Carter was also talking and talking with a purpose and concern. Both Bushes read from prepared documents, and although it became humorous, that fact that Daddy Bush was lost w/out the speech said a lot. the words for Coretta should have come from the heart or just don't say anything else. but if they were written by him directly, understandable so he wouldn't forget. but if someone else wrote the words *whew* don't get me started. my halo is already a little crooked today.

but I know Maya referred to notes, as did others, but their comments were very personal, like Ted Kennedy's. that was the first tear dropper for me.