WASHINGTON – As Donald Trump is inaugurated as president for the second time on Monday, civil rights activists will take a stand for justice just a short distance from the White House.

On this day, honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s federal holiday, they will commit to fighting against any attempts by the Trump administration to roll back the civil rights advancements achieved over the years.

For these advocates, Trump embodies everything that King stood against. They believe it would be disrespectful to remain silent about this on such a significant day.

“Dr. King’s vision is under threat from Donald Trump, who is vocal about his intentions to undermine it,” remarked Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, which is organizing a rally at a historic Black church nearby.

Sharpton and other leaders highlight that having both the inauguration and King holiday on the same day serves as a crucial reminder of the work still to be done. Key issues include safeguarding voting rights, defending diversity initiatives, advocating for fair wages, and enhancing access to affordable healthcare.

Additionally, they wish to emphasize King’s message of compassion and unity in contrast to what they perceive as Trump’s divisive and often hateful rhetoric.

“With the juxtaposition of Trump’s presidency and my father’s legacy, we have a unique chance to honor my father’s work,” Bernice King told YSL News. “This contrast underscores the necessity of continuing my father’s fight for justice.”

Stay Informed

On Monday, Bernice King, along with civil rights and faith leaders, will lead a program at The King Center in Atlanta in tribute to her father. She urges everyone to watch before Trump’s address.

“They will need to remember what I said,” she noted.

Rev. William Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and the main speaker at the center, will encourage faith leaders to take notes during Trump’s speech and to formulate a response, according to Bernice King. Following the event, faith leaders will convene to discuss future strategies.

She explained that one aspect of her father’s nonviolent philosophy is understanding the adversary’s rhetoric to shape an effective plan.

“Regardless of one’s opinions about President-elect Trump, he is set to become the president of the United States,” she stated. “Listening to his statements is essential; ignoring them would hinder our ability to develop a viable strategy.”

The president’s inauguration date is mandated by the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The only other instance of a president being inaugurated on King Day was in 1997 with Democrat Bill Clinton.

Trump’s team did not comment on this matter, emphasizing only the constitutional scheduling of the inauguration on January 20, while Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January, around his birthday on January 15.

‘We Follow King’s Path’

Sharpton clarified that the rally at Metropolitan AME Church will not disrupt the inauguration taking place two miles away. The church is referred to as “sacred ground” for its role in civil rights history and as the site of Frederick Douglass’s funeral.

“We’re not going to the Capitol,” Sharpton asserted. “We are not insurrectionists; we are the followers of Dr. King.”

He explained that while Trump takes his oath, those gathered at the church will pledge to uphold King’s dream.

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League and a participant in Monday’s rally, stressed that the event serves as a reaffirmation of King’s ideals. Although initially planned to include a march, that was postponed due to frigid temperatures.

”Some may ask why march? We march because the media pays attention when we do. Politicians and the public notice as well,” he remarked.

However, Morial emphasized that this movement goes beyond just one day.

“It’s about an ongoing struggle we face in this country, about the future and the soul of the nation,” he explained. “It transcends Trump; he is merely the figurehead of the MAGA movement right now.”

On the same day, Black Voters Matter, a national civic engagement organization, is launching “Unnamed and Unbound: Black Voters Matter Podcast” to confront policies perceived as threats to voting rights. This group has conducted various get-out-the-vote efforts nationwide.

“To be unbound signifies the ability to express oneself freely and operate without restraints while building power without limits,” the group stated in a release Friday.

Seizing the Moment

Adolphus Belk Jr., a political science and African American studies professor at Winthrop University in South Carolina, suggested that activists could leverage this moment to articulate their agenda and strategies clearly.

“Use this time to take the initiative instead of merely responding to potential actions from the president,” Belk advised. “Declare your concerns as Americans and outline what you wish to see addressed.”

Civil rights leaders expressed apprehensions regarding efforts to restrict voting access and dismantle diversity-supporting initiatives.

Sharpton mentioned his organization plans to establish a commission to examine businesses profiting from Black communities while proposing to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The findings will be disclosed on April 4, marking King’s assassination anniversary.

Sharpton emphasized King’s commitment to economic justice, recalling his leadership in impactful economic boycotts.

“History should not record that we relinquished Dr. King Day to those who boldly seek to invalidate his achievements,” Sharpton urged. “We must document our actions and strategize our resistance, using the methods King taught us—economic influence.”

Hateful Speech Undermines Democracy

During his campaign, Trump occasionally cited King’s legacy.

Last summer, he controversially claimed that the crowd at a January 6, 2021, rally was larger than the approximately 250,000 attendees of King’s 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Trump also referenced King when he described then-North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as “Martin Luther King (Jr.) on steroids.” Robinson, embroiled in controversies, lost his bid for governor. This comparison faced backlash from the King family and others.

Some civil rights advocates highlighted the stark difference between Trump’s approach and King’s philosophy of nonviolence. They expressed concern that Trump’s divisive language contrasts sharply with King’s message of unity.

“It’s not solely about President-elect Trump,” Bernice King asserted. “This moment reflects a troubling shift where hateful discourse is rampant.”

She noted that her father never stooped to the hateful attacks directed at him and fellow activists.

“Today, we’ve lowered the standards for acceptable discourse, believing it’s reasonable to match his level of vitriol,” she observed. “I reject the notion of engaging in such name-calling.”

Honoring King’s Legacy

Some Democratic members, including several from the Congressional Black Caucus, boycotted Trump’s first inauguration, citing his disrespect towards civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who passed away in 2020.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat and chair of the Jan. 6 commission who did not attend Trump’s initial inauguration, plans to engage in King Day events in his district, his office confirmed.

President Joe Biden has affirmed his intention to attend the inauguration. Trump did not participate in Biden’s swearing-in ceremony.

Nicole Austin-Hillery, president of the nonpartisan Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, stated that caucus members are more focused on addressing issues beyond just Inauguration Day.

“Their priority is to serve those who depend on them and yearn for meaningful change every single day of the year,” Austin-Hillery explained.

Morial and other civil rights activists expressed a willingness to engage with any president, regardless of their party affiliation.

“I’ll always keep the door open for collaboration on critical issues with any president,” Morial affirmed, but expressed concern about the apparent lack of diversity in Trump’s upcoming administration compared to the first.

Bernice King reiterated that demonstrations were part of a broader strategy, which also included engaging with White House officials and business leaders in communities.

“At the end of the day, reflecting on the next four years, we must evaluate our accomplishments for our community,” she noted. “What have we achieved? That will be the most vital question.”