The third Monday of every January is when people come together to remember the teachings and legacy of Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service. Although it’s been 56 years since the death of MLK, his legacy continues to inspire change. However, this year, people’s attention was turned away from the historic figure, and toward a new part of American history: President Donald Trump.
Reducing taxes for the rich, rolling back diversity efforts, and embracing his white nationalist supporters are some things Donald Trump’s second term in office has in store for the U.S., many of which MLK was a vocal adversary of. Trump's inauguration day being on MLK day was dishonorable to his memory — casting a shadow over his teachings which are becoming more needed than ever with the coming presidency.
It’s no secret that the irony of the overlapping days is rooted in the differences in values between Martin Luther King and Donald Trump. In office, the new president has preached the “repel, repatriate, and remove” message toward undocumented immigrants, dehumanizing them and their stories. Moreover, President Trump signed an executive order ending diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, also known as DEI. MLK, on the other hand, is known for his quote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." King believed in the moral imperative to treat all equally, regardless of their background. Trump's efforts to promote division undermined MLK's goals of unity. King also preached for a society where wealth and power were shared. Trump, in contrast, has decided to cut taxes for the rich. This is expected to add $4.6 trillion to he deficit, creating further poverty struggles for many Americans.
Above all, MLK preached peace. In his urges for change, he emphasized the importance of non-violent protests set forth by Mahatma Gandhi. The current president, on the other hand, has done the opposite — threatening to use the U.S. military against American protestors and to expand U.S. territories forcibly. This stark contrast between peace and violence makes the coinciding days even more unsettling.
In MLK’s days, riots, police brutality, racial inequality, and wealth disparities demanded a figure to lead change. Since the government wasn’t offering its support, it became the civilian’s job to protest and call for action on social issues. Although we think of this as a bygone era, it is still the reality we live in today. The wealth gap is greater than ever, and it will continue to widen under Trump's presidency; socioeconomic and racial disparities are still prevalent.
Although MLK wasn’t fully recognized this year due to the coinciding inauguration, it doesn’t take away from his message of freedom, equality, and justice. We must remind ourselves that the people are the ones able to create change, and although the government has control of policy, it is us who have a say in its course through public opinion, activism, and social movements. King’s son tweeted "MLK Day is a reminder to move from reflection to action." Despite his celebration being tainted by Trump's inauguration, MLK's goals can still be lived out.