Coretta Scott King Calls for Health System Reform During University of Dayton Speech

Coretta Scott King, widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., on Saturday called for expanded health care coverage in a speech to more than 3,000 people at the University of Dayton, the Dayton Daily News reports. King said, "We have got to stand firm for a more compassionate health care system which leaves no person behind -- a system that takes responsibility to insure that no one be denied medical care because they lack adequate insurance." King said, "We seem to have unlimited funds for an elective war. ... But our political leaders tell us we can't afford to provide health care for our people. What is wrong with this picture?" She added, "In my view, there is no national security issue of more urgent concern that the vulnerability of tens of millions of Americans who have no health insurance whatsoever and millions more who have inadequate health coverage." In her speech, which marked International Women's Day three days early, King also advocated equal pay for women and encouraged them to run for all levels of public office (Modic, Dayton Daily News, 3/7).