1. Lines 2-12: What is one claim opposing King's work to which he is responding in

the first paragraph of the letter? To whom is he responding, and why is this

audience significant?

The opposing claim is the king is responding to the claim that the work of the king is untimely and is also unwisely.

Explanation:

Dr King said that recently in the Birmingham newspaper he had read that clergymen had written and claimed the work of King to be without any time and work not being wise.

They described the recent activities to be untimely and unwisely so he responded back to this claim trying to defend his own activities against the claim made by the clergymen. Dr King thought that these people deserved answers.