MLK Day and Trump inauguration collide, highlighting stark civil rights divide

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change will mark MLK Day with “moral reflection and prophetic response” amid uncertainty as President-elect Trump retakes office. Why it matters: This year, the King holiday and the presidential inauguration fall on the same day — a paradox that civil rights leaders say underscores the nation’s deep divide. Many see a contrast between a man who preached peace and an incoming president whose rhetoric has deepened racial divides, raising fears that Trump could roll back civil rights gains. The big picture: Trump’s second term follows a campaign filled with racist rhetoric, anti-trans policies, and mass deportation promises—raising concerns about the long-term impact on civil rights and equality. King Center officials and the King family aim to use MLK Day to remind Americans of their responsibility for human rights and poverty action. Zoom in: Bishop William J. Barber, II, President & Sr. Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, will offer a keynote sermon on Monday at the 40th Annual King Holiday Observance Commemorative Service. The service is at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and will be live-streamed on The King Center’s website. Barber tells Axios he will reflect on how this overlap...