A Day to Think About Justice and Fairness
Reflecting on MLK’s Dream on an Unjust Inauguration Day.
Today, as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded of his lifelong fight for justice and fairness. This holiday honors a man who believed in accountability, compassion, and equality for everyone.
Yet, on this same day, Donald Trump is beginning his second term as president. It’s a stark contrast that raises difficult questions about who we are as a nation and what we truly value.
Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that justice isn’t just about punishing wrongdoing; it’s about making things right. It’s about creating a society where everyone is treated fairly, no matter who they are.
But today, we see examples of the opposite. Donald Trump has faced accusations of serious wrongdoing throughout his career—allegations of sexual misconduct from 26 women1, 34 felony convictions for civil financial fraud2, and even leading an insurrection against the Capitol on January 6, 20213. Yet, he has faced little real accountability. He won’t serve time for his crimes4.
Instead, he takes the highest office in the land once again, promising to pardon those who joined the Capitol riot. What does this say about fairness in America when some people seem to live by a different set of rules?
Justice also means standing against greed and putting people before profits. Yet Donald Trump has used his power to enrich himself and his inner circle.
On Saturday, 2 days before his inauguration, he launched a cryptocurrency called a “meme coin.” Trump owns 80% of the coin now valued at $10B. Yah. Trump made $8,000,000,000.00 selling something that is worthless5.
On Sunday, he launched the $Melania coin and made $800,000,000 ($800M at the time of this writing). There is no value for it. Combined, the coins took $11B from supporters for nothing.
Does he pay taxes on it? Nope6. He hasn't realized any of the funds, but he can borrow against them tax-free.
While he profits, his administration plans to make laws about cryptocurrency. That’s like being both the referee and a player in the same game.
And where did this money come from? Some from his fans, but probably a lot from foreign governments, giving them a way to gain influence over him. Bribery? Yes, probably, but we will never know...
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in helping the poor and vulnerable, not creating systems that benefit the rich while putting everyone else at risk.
Trump’s injustices aren't just about money; they’ve also hurt real people in deeply personal ways.
During his first term, his administration separated families at the border. Parents and children were taken from each other, sometimes permanently7. The emotional pain and trauma caused by these policies cannot be undone. Families are the foundation of any community, and breaking them apart weakens the bonds that hold us together.
This next term promises to be worse, deporting US citizens who are children right alongside their parents, but first holding these children in detention facilities for who knows how long. That is what they have told us the plan is8...
Martin Luther King Jr. worked to unite people and strengthen communities, showing us the power of love and connection. Trump? No, not so much.
Something different is going on today. Something very powerful. Something very dark. Today we see power concentrated in the hands of a few. Trump’s close ties to tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg reveal a new kind of oligarchy in America. These unelected billionaires have incredible influence over our economy, our media, and even our government.
The Founding Fathers warned us about this kind of power. James Madison once wrote that putting too much power in the hands of one person—or a small group—was the very definition of tyranny9. Yet here we are, with a government that seems to serve the interests of the wealthy rather than the needs of everyday people.
And maybe it will all work out ok? But why would it? When they can take and take and take.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we have the chance to reflect on what kind of country we want to be. Do we want to live in a place where a few rich and powerful people control everything? Or do we want a fairer society, where everyone gets a chance to succeed? King’s legacy reminds us that change is possible, but it requires courage and action. It means speaking out against injustice and standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard.
Today, we face a choice. Will we accept a world where greed and power rule, or will we fight for justice and fairness? Martin Luther King Jr. showed us the way forward, but it’s up to us to continue his work. The future of our democracy depends on what we choose to do next.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations
https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-announces-34-count-felony-trial-conviction-of-donald-j-trump/
https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Smith-Volume-1-January-2025.pdf
https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-be-sentenced-hush-money-case-days-before-his-inauguration-2025-01-10/
“Trump Memes are intended to function as an expression of support for, and engagement with, the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol "$TRUMP" and the associated artwork, and are not intended to be, or to be the subject of, an investment opportunity, investment contract, or security of any type.” from https://gettrumpmemes.com/#Fight-facts
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/invest-borrow-against-die-scott-114400643.html
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/family-separation-timeline/
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-aims-end-birthright-citizenship-says-american-citizens-family-il-rcna183274
https://globalpi.org/article/james-madison-concentration-of-powers-is-tyranny/