Question

king believed civil disobedience was necessary in the struggle for civil rights. in his letter, he explained why civil disobedience is effective for combating violence from segregationists as well as inaction by people he called “white moderates.” read the highlighted text about white moderates. then answer the question below.
highlighted text: i stand under this honored constitution to you, my christian and jewish brothers. paul... i have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is... the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “i agree with you in the goal you seek, but i cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who... believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
i had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. i had hoped that the white moderate would understand that the present tension in the south is a necessary phase of the transition from an obnoxious negative peace, in which the negro passively accepted his unjust plight, to a substantive and positive peace, in which all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality. actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. we merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. we bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with.
negro: an outdated term for an african american person
why does king argue that the white moderates were a “stumbling block” to black equality?
they demand that civil rights activists push for an immediate end to segregation.
they claim to value racial equality but do not support the actions necessary to achieve it.
they had contempt for black people and so could never support desegregation.
(note: some text at the bottom is cut off but the main question and options are captured.)

Explanation:

King argues white moderates are a barrier because they claim to support racial equality goals but reject the direct action methods needed to achieve justice. They prioritize order over justice, set timelines for Black freedom, and push activists to wait for a "convenient season," slowing progress toward equality.

Answer:

They claim to value racial equality but do not support the action necessary to achieve it.