Civil Rights Leaders Prepare to Counter Trump’s Policies on Equality
As the United States prepares to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leaders are organizing efforts to counter policies expected from President-elect Donald Trump that they believe will undermine decades of progress.
Trump has vowed to challenge diversity initiatives and programs, and his transition team has announced plans to implement policies aimed at boosting diversity at companies and universities. However, civil rights leaders are opposed to these measures, citing concerns that they will disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities.
“We will resist and oppose,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “Our concern and emphasis is going to be on his policy announcements.”
Civil rights leaders are planning rallies and meetings with state lawmakers to strategize on how to safeguard policies and avoid funding cuts to social service programs that support Black and Latino communities. They are also planning counter challenges against corporations that have rolled back or eliminated diversity initiatives.
“This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day will serve as a dual moment to honor my father’s legacy of non-violence and unity, while calling on Americans to keep up the fight,” said Dr. Bernice King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Other civil rights leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Kimberly Conway, senior policy counsel for the ACLU, are urging policymakers and grassroots leaders to reevaluate their approach and unify in the fight for equality.
“We don’t fight without changing legislation. It takes time, but it happens,” said Sharpton. “We’re advocating that they go even further with respect to those mandates.”
Some corporations, including Walmart, have faced criticism for eliminating diversity policies, and civil rights leaders are planning to use traditional organizing tactics, such as boycotts and protests, to pressure companies to reconsider their actions.
Meanwhile, supporters of Trump’s proposals argue that certain diversity initiatives amount to discrimination. Camilla Moore, chairwoman of the Georgia Black Republican Council, said she believes the Trump administration should take a look at removing any remaining barriers to equal opportunities.
The anniversary of Dr. King’s birthday coincides with Trump’s inauguration, a rare occurrence that has only happened twice in history. The last time this occurred was during President Barack Obama’s second term.
Clayborne Carson, a historian at Stanford University, said that while there may not be major civil rights legislation in the near future, it is up to society to decide whether it will become more egalitarian or less so.
As the United States prepares to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy, civil rights leaders are sending a clear message: they will resist and oppose any policies that undermine equality and justice.
