Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day

Because he wanted to perpetrate an attack with an explosive device on a march to commemorate the slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King, a U.S. citizen to 32 years in prison has been sentenced. A court in the State of Washington pronounced the sentence against Kevin William Harpham. The 37-year-old had in September following a deal with prosecutors pleaded guilty to escape a life sentence. He pleaded guilty here, having tried for racist motives to use an explosive device.

Harpham was at the memorial march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the City of Spokane, Washington, 17 January, a homemade explosive device detonated leave. But the bomb had been discovered shortly before the start of the parade in a backpack, and then the route of the march with some 2,000 participants has been changed.

Attorney Michael Ormsby said the verdict was "a signal to the community that hatred and violence will not be tolerated." Shortly before the sentencing Harpham lawyer had yet tried to withdraw the guilty plea of his client, but declined by the judge, however. After a parole Harpham will stand up to his death under the supervision of a court.

Martin Luther King Day