FBI Tweets Tribute to MLK - Who It Tried to Destroy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Twitter account put out a post Tuesday afternoon paying tribute to Martin Luther King. Jr on the 49th anniversary of his assassination, prompting a backlash from tweeters who were quick to remind the FBI of their long history of surveillance against the historic civil rights leader and his family.

The tweet contained a picture of King and a quote from his famous speech made five days before his murder in which he declared that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Today, on the anniversary of his assassination, the FBI honors the life, work, & commitment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to justice. pic.twitter.com/WZInYKQx2g

— FBI (@FBI) April 4, 2017

Replies to the comment were quick to point out that starting in 1955, the FBI engaged in covert operations against King, with Robert Kennedy authorizing wiretaps of King’s home and the offices of his organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The wiretap operation was ostensibly an attempt to expose potential ties between King and communist sympathizers, but ended up being used in an attempt to discredit King by making allegations of adultery against him.

In 2014, The New York Times published a letter found in the National Archives and revealed to have been sent by the FBI to King in attempt to push him out of the civil rights movement. Some believe the letter was sent with the aim to get King to commit suicide, resulting in the letter becoming known as the “suicide letter.”

The letter threatens to use King’s alleged affairs to ruin his image, calling him an “evil, abnormal beast,” his alleged lovers “filthy, dirty, evil companions,” and accusing him of “sexual orgies,” “adulterous acts” and “immoral conduct.”

“There is only one thing left for you to do,” the letter concludes. “You know what it is.”

@FBI pic.twitter.com/VJhxWGTJCU

— brian feldman (@bafeldman) April 4, 2017

@FBI alright then pic.twitter.com/0FCZfoOy4z

— Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) April 4, 2017

@FBI reading this tweet like… pic.twitter.com/oE65BZuk3n

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) April 4, 2017

@FBI You shld have protected Civil Rights leaders, instead of running COINTELPRO smear campaign. Evers, X, King might still be alive if you had

— Kyle Linhares (@KyleLinhares) April 4, 2017

.@FBI I’d sit this one out if I were you.

— Zach Martin (@zamartin) April 4, 2017

@FBI pic.twitter.com/pTkaeLheOr

— Tricia S. (@latricialicious) April 4, 2017

A Senate investigation into surveillance tactics against King confirmed in 1976 that the letter was originally from the FBI. According to the New York Times article on the “suicide letter,” current FBI Chairman James Comey keeps a copy of the wiretap request against King on his desk as a reminder of the damage his organization is capable of.

16 MSNBC Shows That Have Gained Since Trump, Ranked (Photos)

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has boosted ratings for all the major cable news channels. But none more than MSNBC, which grew a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. In fact, the network has the 16 cable news shows that have shown the most growth.

TheWrap wondered on March 15 if Rachel Maddow would turn away viewers after the <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/rachel-maddow-played-us/">mixed reaction to her record-setting episode</a> that revealed Trump's 2005 tax return. Three weeks later, it's safe to say that didn't happen. Using the week of Trump's inauguration as a base and comparing it to the three weeks since Maddow's reveal, here are MSNBC"s big winners, ranked:
16. “For the Record with Greta”

Greta Van Susteren ditched Fox News for MSNBC and her new show has grown 23 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while CNN has remained stagnant over the same time period.
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15. “MSNBC Live with Katy Tur”

The midday newscast that airs from 2-3 p.m. ET has grown 28 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while rival networks have lost viewers over the same timelot.
NBC
14. “MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle”

Ruhle’s daily newscast airs directly after “Morning Joe” at 9 am E.T. and has gained 30 percent of total viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
Twitter
13. “The 11th Hour with Brian Williams”

Williams’ nightly program has grown 30 percent since the week of Trump’s inauguration while CNN’s 11 p.m. ET program has gained 10 percent over the same period.

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12. “All In with Chris Hayes”

Rachel Maddow’s lead-in has delivered, growing 32 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while setting the table for one of television’s hottest programs. Hayes has the only cable news program among the big three networks to see an increase over the timeslot.

TheWrap
11. “MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin”

Melvin’s daily newscast that airs from 1-2 p.m. ET has increased 33 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, with Sean Spicer’s White House press briefings being a hot topic this time of day.
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10. “Hardball with Chris Matthews”

“Hardball” paves the way for MSNBC’s red-hot primetime lineup and has seen an increase of 33 percent himself while rivals have lost viewers over the same span.
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9. “MSNBC Live with Kate Snow”

Snow’s version of “MSNBC Live” airs from 3-4 p.m. ET and has increased viewership 34 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while both CNN and Fox News have dropped.
NBC
8. “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell”

O’Donnell has one of the best timeslot in cable news… directly after Maddow. His audience has grown 35 percent since the week of her record-setting Trump reveal episode compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
O’Donnell
7. “Morning Joe”

Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist’s “Morning Joe” trends on social media essentially every morning, as it appears to be the go-to morning program for political Twitter. “Morning Joe” has picked up a 35 percent bump in viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
NBC
6. “MTP Daily”

Chuck Todd’s daily version of NBC News’ “Meet the Press” airs at 5 p.m. ET and has grown 37 percent among total viewers over the past three weeks compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
NBC
5. “Andrea Mitchell Reports”

Mitchell’s daily program airs at noon ET and has grown 38 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
NBC
4. “MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson”

Jackson’s version of “MSNBC Live” airs at 10 a.m. ET and has grown 39 percent in total viewers compared to the week Trump was sworn in, while rival CNN has grown 16 percent over the same time period.

TheWrap
3. “MSNBC Live with Steve Kornacki”

Kornacki’s daily newscast has seen a 42 percent increase among total viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.

NBC
2. “MSNBC Live” at 11 a.m. ET

Many version of “MSNBC Live” have a permanent host for a specific hour of the day, but the 11 a.m. edition features a rotating group of the network’s talent and has seen a whopping 43 percent increase among total viewers since the week of Trump’s inauguration.
NBC
1. “The Rachel Maddow Show”

Was there really any question which show would occupy the top spot? Maddow’s viewership has increased 44 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration. Maddow was already on fire when she revealed Trump’s 2005 tax return and viewers have continued to flock to her program on a nightly basis ever since.
NBC

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MSNBC has shown significant growth since Inauguration Day, particularly after Rachel Maddow revealed Trump’s 2005 tax return

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has boosted ratings for all the major cable news channels. But none more than MSNBC, which grew a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. In fact, the network has the 16 cable news shows that have shown the most growth.

TheWrap wondered on March 15 if Rachel Maddow would turn away viewers after the <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/rachel-maddow-played-us/">mixed reaction to her record-setting episode</a> that revealed Trump's 2005 tax return. Three weeks later, it's safe to say that didn't happen. Using the week of Trump's inauguration as a base and comparing it to the three weeks since Maddow's reveal, here are MSNBC"s big winners, ranked:

View In Gallery

16 MSNBC Shows That Have Gained Since Trump, Ranked (Photos)

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