In paragraph 8 of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” what did Martin Luther King propose in his remarks after Birmingham's economic community, including its merchants, broke their promises to his followers? Click here to read the text. He was determined to continue to negotiate in order to appease city officials. He resolved to take direct action by resorting to public sit-ins and marches. When pressured, he asked his followers to boycott stores during holidays. In spite of his deep disappointment, he delivered a speech in response to injustice.