Martin Luther King Jr. Day events across the U.S. on Monday honored the legacy of the civil rights leader, but many gatherings quickly turned into platforms for political attacks—particularly targeting President Donald Trump. From Washington, D.C., to Atlanta and New York, speakers used the national holiday to rebuke the Trump administration’s immigration policies and stance on diversity initiatives.
In Atlanta, Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice King, delivered pointed remarks at Ebenezer Baptist Church. She likened current immigration enforcement efforts to the violent crackdowns on civil rights demonstrators in the 1960s. “No ICE or ICE raids will turn us around,” she declared, referencing her father’s defense of protest as a cornerstone of American greatness.
King criticized the Trump administration’s elimination of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. “No DEI removals or DEI bans will break our resolve to create a just, equitable and inclusive society,” she said. She also responded to Trump’s previous claim that white Americans were treated “very badly” in the wake of the Civil Rights Act, calling the comment a dangerous rewriting of history. “Fairness does not steal from you. Justice strengthens us all,” she said.
Across the country in Brooklyn, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attacked Trump during a ceremony at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the only we celebrate here,” Jeffries said. “Not the wannabe authoritarian down in Washington, D.C.”
Meanwhile, major cities like Los Angeles and Dallas held peaceful parades with floats, music, and community groups. Though less politically charged, the events still carried undertones of advocacy and unity in the face of national division.
Despite the federal holiday’s intent to honor Dr. King’s message of peaceful unity and justice, several events this year became stages for condemning policies associated with Trump’s first term and platform ahead of the 2024 election. As the primary season intensifies, King’s legacy is again being drawn into the nation’s political dialogue.
