Staying Grounded in Truth: Honoring MLK’s Legacy in the Face of Injustice
Today, as I witness the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, I’m aware many of us are feeling a deep and unsettling mix of emotions—fear, anger, disgust, grief. To have this moment fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day adds another layer of painful irony. As Trump invokes King’s name, claiming to be the path toward fulfilling his dream, we must call out this falsehood. Because the truth is, Trump’s presidency represents the antithesis of everything King stood for—justice, equity, liberation, and an end to systemic oppression.
For those of us who have dedicated our lives to social justice, mental health, and community healing, today feels like a betrayal of progress, a reminder of the fragility of democracy, and a stark wake-up call to the ways power can be wielded to control rather than to serve. But as we hold this reality, we must also hold onto something else: our own power, which cannot be taken from us.
Naming the Falsehoods & Affirming Reality
Trump’s use of King’s legacy as a political prop is not new—politicians have long co-opted civil rights movements while enacting policies that actively harm marginalized communities. But we know the truth:
• MLK was a radical advocate for systemic change, not a passive figure of unity. He stood against capitalism, militarism, and white supremacy, and he was surveilled and vilified by the very institutions now attempting to claim his legacy.
• Trump’s presidency was built on racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and transphobia. His policies and rhetoric have emboldened white nationalism and undermined civil rights protections.
• Oppression is not “debatable.” There is no middle ground when it comes to human dignity. Calls for “unity” without justice are manipulations meant to pacify resistance.
This is not about political disagreements. This is about human rights, about protecting those most vulnerable, and about rejecting any attempt to reframe oppression as progress.
Staying Present, Aware, and in Our Power
Despite the fear and anger, this moment is not the end. It is a reminder of the work that remains. The civil rights movement did not end with the Voting Rights Act. LGBTQ+ liberation did not end with marriage equality. Resistance is ongoing, and we are part of that lineage.
Here’s how we hold onto our power in the face of control and oppression:
1. Name What is Happening, Without Dismissing Our Own Truth
• This is real. This is harmful. We do not need to “wait and see” to know what is coming. Trust your instincts.
2. Stay Connected to Community
• Isolation is a tool of oppression. Find your people—organizers, healers, activists, artists—those who remind you of what is possible.
3. Resist the Pull of Hopelessness
• Despair is what they want. Action, even small, is resistance. Whether it’s protecting local policies, mutual aid, or grassroots organizing—every effort matters.
4. Protect Your Mental & Emotional Health
• Fear and rage are valid, but we must not let them consume us. Rest, breathe, create, and heal—these, too, are acts of defiance.
5. Remember, This System is Not Our Only Reality
• The government may shift, but our liberation does not come from them. We are already building alternative systems of care, justice, and solidarity. We do not have to wait for permission to live in alignment with our values.
Moving Forward With Intention
On this day meant to honor Martin Luther King Jr., we reject the rewriting of his legacy for political gain. We reaffirm his radical vision, and we commit to carrying it forward.
We do not know exactly what the next four years will bring, but we do know this: We have been here before. Our ancestors, elders, and movement leaders before us have fought oppression under worse conditions and prevailed. And we will continue that fight—not alone, but together.
Today, we mourn and look after one another. Tomorrow, we strategize and keep looking after one another. Always, we resist.
Extra care today, and each day thereafter, to those of us are facing the reality of persecution.
Hear this with a very high volume: There are safe spaces for you. Where you are welcome. You are seen. You are valued.
~ In solidarity