Diane Nash Refused To March At #Selma50 With President George W. Bush

In an exclusive with Roland Martin’s NewsOne Now during the fiftieth anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” MLK lieutentant Diane Nash tells why she refused to march across the bridge with former President George W. Bush —in her mind, he was a man who condoned violence.

Nash, who was in King’s inner circle during some of his most significant campaigns, including Selma, minced no words.

“I refused to march because George Bush marched,” Nash told NewsOne Now’s Roland Martin on Saturday. President Bush was the only other ex president in attendance who took part in the events of the weekend.

SEE ALSO: #Selma50 Historic Photos From The Selma To Montgomery March 

“I think the Selma movement was about non-violence and peace and democracy,” she continued. “And George Bush stands for just the opposite. For violence and war and stolen elections.”

After saying that the event was “not appropriate for him,” and that his administration “had people tortured.”

“I think that George Bush’s presence is really an insult to me and people who do not believe in non-violence.”

Nash, who clearly did not let her years temper her courage or conviction, is widely considered the architect of many of King’s campaigns, and one of the only women in his inner circle. She was portrayed by actress Tessa Thompson in the film of the same name.

Watch Nash’s comments in their entirety here: