MLK Day at King’s Atlanta church features daughter’s warning about anti-woke rhetoric

ATLANTA —  A massive 70-member choir belted out “Hallelujah” at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service Monday at his former church in Atlanta, followed by a stern message from his youngest daughter warning against anti-woke rhetoric.

The service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was among the most prominent commemorations of King planned across the country Monday. It also included seven people at the front of the stage holding large signs proclaiming “JUSTICE,” “FREEDOM” and “DEMOCRACY.”

“We are living in a time when anti-woke rhetoric has become a weapon to divide us and distract us from the real issues of injustice,” King’s daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, said. “To be woke is to be aware of oppression and commitment to justice.”

The MLK holiday was half of the nation’s double-duty Monday: the inauguration of Donald Trump, who heads back to the White House, created mixed feelings on King’s day for civil rights leaders who have opposed Trump’s rhetoric and stances on race and civil rights.

The keynote speaker at Ebenezer made a reference to Trump, saying he had heard “that somebody had won a mandate.”

“I don’t care who you are, if you win 60% of the vote, you never win a mandate to violate justice,” said Bishop William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. “You never win a mandate to hurt people.”

But in Washington, in a speech after taking the oath of office, Trump noted the significance of the King holiday.

“In his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality,” Trump said.

Monday marked the third time in the nearly 40 years since the federal King holiday became law that it coincides with a presidential inauguration. Presidents Clinton and Obama also were sworn in for their second terms on the holiday.

Ebenezer is where King was baptized as a child and ordained at 19. He became the congregation’s co-pastor in 1960 alongside his father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. He remained in that role until his death, and his funeral was held at the church. The church is now part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District. On Monday, there was a heavy security presence outside the church.

Liccy Arias, 21, a recent Georgia State University alumnus, was among a large group of Georgia State students and faculty members at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Her visit was part of the day of service the Atlanta-based school has on the holiday.

“Helping out makes my heart very, very full,” she said.

King was shot in Memphis, Tenn., while standing on the balcony of the old Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968. The civil rights leader had been in the city to support a sanitation workers’ strike. The motel has been turned into the National Civil Rights Museum, which provided free admission to visitors Monday.

Martin writes for the Associated Press.