By Bianca Flowers(Reuters) – Civil rights leaders are rallying to counter expected policies from President-elect Donald Trump that they fear will erode progress in equality, as the United States gears up to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Mass deportations and the dismantling of diversity initiatives are high on the Republican Party’s agenda. Trump has indicated plans to challenge diversity-boosting policies in companies and universities, criticizing “woke” culture that emphasizes racial and social justice. Activists are mobilizing ahead of MLK Day, strategizing to protect policies supporting Black and Latino communities and resisting potential cuts to social service programs. The National Urban League’s Marc Morial stressed the need to oppose Trump’s policies. Trump’s team did not respond to requests for comments. Trump’s executive powers could face legal challenges, with experts noting limitations to override laws or judicial rulings. This year’s MLK Day coincides with Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, a historical rarity. Dr. Bernice King urged Americans to uphold her father’s legacy of non-violence and unity. Rev. Al Sharpton emphasized the need for policy changes and unity. Some Democratic lawmakers have issued mandates to support non-discrimination and equal opportunities. ACLU’s Kimberly Conway advocated for stronger mandates. Corporations have faced backlash for scrapping diversity programs following George Floyd’s killing in 2020. Walmart, the largest U.S. employer, received criticism for eliminating diversity policies.
A group of shareholders penned a letter to Walmart’s CEO this week as political lobbying shifts toward influencing corporations. Reverend Al Sharpton suggested that traditional organizing methods, akin to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, could pressure companies to reconsider their actions by impacting their financial performance.
“We’re establishing a commission, in collaboration with other civil rights organizations, to examine over a 90-day period companies declaring their withdrawal from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. You may choose to align with Trump’s ideology, but it will come at a cost,” Sharpton emphasized.
Supporters of President Trump argue that some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives constitute discrimination. Camilla Moore, Chairwoman of the Georgia Black Republican Council, who is set to attend the inauguration, expressed anticipation for Trump’s policy decisions.
“I believe the Trump administration should focus on eliminating any remaining obstacles. There should be no barriers hindering me or any white individual from pursuing our aspirations.”
President Trump has frequently asserted that he has been the most beneficial president for the Black community since Abraham Lincoln, often highlighting reduced Black unemployment rates and initiatives introduced during his initial term. Some proponents also attribute to him the passage of criminal justice reforms, including the First Step Act, a bipartisan legislation on sentencing reform that had a disproportionate impact on Black men – an initiative that advocates had urged lawmakers to address for years.
Clayborne Carson, a historian at Stanford University and the editor of King’s autobiography, conveyed that significant civil rights legislation was unlikely in the immediate future. “We are facing the prospect of a different societal landscape,” he remarked. “The direction it takes, towards greater egalitarianism or otherwise, rests on our decisions.”
(Reporting by Bianca Flowers; Editing by Kat Stafford and Claudia Parsons)
