Dr. Ben Carson to attend Martin Luther King, Jr. event in Myrtle Beach
Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson will attend the Corporate and Community Awards Breakfast that is part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in Myrtle Beach on Monday.
Event organizer Bennie Swans confirmed Carson’s limited participation, and said that a staffer from Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders’ campaign also inquired about attending but has not confirmed whether the Vermont senator will make an appearance.
“This is not an opportunity to talk about campaigns or positions, it is only an opportunity to talk about Dr. King and the civil rights movement,” Swans said.
“We made that perfectly clear to them,” Swans said. “Politics is not part of the equation.”
Carson will not be giving a speech, but will be given a few minutes to make remarks, Swans said.
Carson also is scheduled to attend the Tea Party convention later Monday morning at Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach.
This isn’t the first time presidential candidates have participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in Myrtle Beach -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry attended in 2012.
This is not an opportunity to talk about campaigns or positions, it is only an opportunity to talk about Dr. King and the civil rights movement.
Bennie Swans
event organizer“Perry worked the tables like I’ve never seen before,” Swans said.
The breakfast will be at 8 a.m. at the Mary C. Canty Recreation Center at 971 Canal Street. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to pass through Secret Service security checks that are now part of Carson’s campaign.
Swans said he did not extend personal invitations to presidential candidates to attend any of the three-day weekend events celebrating the birth of the civil rights leader, but that all of the candidates are welcome to attend.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott will also be at the breakfast, as will Myrtle Beach City Councilmen Michael Chestnut and Wayne Gray.
The Sun News contacted the Sanders campaign to confirm whether the senator was attending, but a spokesperson did not respond.
Sanders is expected to be in Charleston Sunday night to participate in the Democratic presidential debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, which airs on NBC at 9 p.m. and is moderated by Lester Holt.
Hudson can be reached at 843-444-1765
Twitter: @AudreyHudson
This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Dr. Ben Carson to attend Martin Luther King, Jr. event in Myrtle Beach."