MLK Day 2025: Civil Rights Leaders Reflect Amid Trump Inauguration

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the nation commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2025, the federal holiday coincides with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, creating a stark contrast between the civil rights leader’s legacy and the incoming administration’s policies.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on the third Monday of January, honors the birthday of the late civil rights leader, who was born on January 15, 1929. The holiday, signed into law in 1983, has been a national celebration since 1986. This year, the day also marks Trump’s inauguration, prompting mixed reactions from civil rights advocates.

“I’m glad it occurred on that day because it gives the United States of America and the world the contrast in pictures. Is this the way you want to go — or is this the way you want to go?” said Bernice King, CEO of the King Center and daughter of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Major U.S. retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Kroger, will remain open on MLK Day, while wholesale retailers like Costco and Sam's Club will also operate as usual. However, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed, along with most government offices and services, including the U.S. Postal Service.

Civil rights leaders, including King’s family, are using the day to reflect on the progress made and the challenges ahead. “Our mission doesn’t change. Our job is to make democracy work for all, to make sure that equal protection is ensured under the law,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended a National Action Network event on January 15, emphasized the importance of perseverance. “Ours is a journey,” she said. “Whatever the outcome of any particular moment, we can never be defeated. Our spirit can never be defeated, because when that happens, we won’t win.”

As the nation observes MLK Day, many are grappling with the implications of Trump’s presidency on civil rights. “The hostility is similar, particularly in that there is a mobilized, active and aggressive extremist-right hell bent on unraveling rights and any sense of shared purpose,” said Maya Wiley, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

King’s advocacy for equality and justice continues to inspire, even as the nation faces new challenges. “There will be agonizing setbacks along with creative advances,” King wrote in his final book. “Our consolation is that no one can know the true taste of victory if he has never swallowed defeat.”