Biden honors MLK legacy at Charleston church before leaving


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President Biden is set to spend his final day in office visiting South Carolina, where he will participate in events commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The President’s schedule includes a visit to Charleston’s Royal Missionary Baptist Church, where he will deliver remarks focusing on the ongoing efforts to fulfill Dr. King’s vision. Additionally, he will make an appearance at the city’s International African American Museum.

The visit coincides with the federal holiday honoring Dr. King, the renowned civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient who championed non-violent resistance in pursuit of racial equality before his tragic assassination in 1968. The timing is particularly significant as it precedes Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, scheduled for the following day.

A White House representative emphasized the significance of this final presidential trip, noting its connection to Biden’s enduring relationship with South Carolina. The state played a crucial role in Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, providing a decisive victory in the Democratic primary after initial setbacks in other states, demonstrating his strong support among African American voters.

Charleston holds particular significance in recent civil rights history as the location of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which experienced a tragic mass shooting in 2015 when a white supremacist killed nine Black congregation members. Biden had previously attended the funeral service for Pastor Clementa Pinckney, who was among those killed in the racially motivated attack carried out by an assailant who had authored a racist manifesto.

During a speech at Emanuel AME in 2024, Biden acknowledged, “I would not have been elected president without the support of the Black community of South Carolina.”

 

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