‘Tale of two cities’: Martin Luther King Jr honored as Trump is sworn in nearby

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‘Tale of two cities’: Martin Luther King Jr honored as Trump is sworn in nearby
Author: Marina Dunbar in Washington
Published: Jan, 21 2025 00:38

King’s legacy celebrated on a day that likely signals a step backwards in the fight against racism. As Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time on Martin Luther King Jr Day 2025, both his supporters and those opposing him came out in droves to the US Capitol.

Black individuals and communities were seen around Washington DC honoring King’s legacy on a day that likely signals a step backwards in the fight against racism. Trump, his tech oligarch friends, and followers, new and old, have propagated racist language. Musk okayed the use of racial slurs on X while Mark Zuckerberg recently rolled back on Meta’s DEI policies.

But in DC, one of America’s largest and most historic Black populations, it was clear that these communities are not going to be silenced – even if that becomes the new aim of social media. People of all colors gathered at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal church to hear the words of Rev Al Sharpton. A march was planned, but much like the inauguration, it was moved indoors due to snowfall and freezing temperatures.

To some, the cold blanket of whiteness outside was an omen. “We decided to hold this rally in DC today because we want to show people the tale of two cities in one district,” Sharpton said. “While Trump is taking an oath to bring his hero, Andrew Jackson back into the White House, we are here taking our oath to Martin Luther King.”.

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