--- title: Martin Luther King Day: Presidential Candidates Invoke MLK description: Presidential candidates from both parties used Martin Luther King Jr. Day to connect the civil rights leader's legacy to their campaigns canonical: https://time.com/4185190/martin-luther-king-day-presidential-candidates/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-19T17:25:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:41:28.459Z article:section: Politics og:title: 7 Ways Presidential Candidates Invoked Martin Luther King Jr. og:description: Candidates used the civil rights leader's legacy to promote their campaigns og:url: https://time.com/4185190/martin-luther-king-day-presidential-candidates/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7265746ac7582376/6988799f2dce0177109e766e/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2136 og:image:height: 1202 og:image:alt: At United Nations Plaza, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told an estimated 125,000 peace marchers that the United States should end the bombing of North Vietnam og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 7 Ways Presidential Candidates Invoked Martin Luther King Jr. twitter:description: Candidates used the civil rights leader's legacy to promote their campaigns twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7265746ac7582376/6988799f2dce0177109e766e/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Ways Presidential Candidates Invoked Martin Luther King Jr. > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. 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But he went his own way._  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jan 19, 2016 5:25 PM UTC  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jan 19, 2016 5:25 PM UTC Presidential candidates from both parties used [Martin Luther King Jr. Day](http://time.com/4182473/martin-luther-king-day-mlk-what-know/) over the long holiday weekend to connect the legacy of the civil rights leader to their own campaign messages and policy proposals. Here’s how some of them did it. **Hillary Clinton** The Democratic presidential candidate marched in Charleston, S.C., on Monday and [spoke on the steps of the statehouse](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/jan/18/hillary-clinton-pays-tribute-to-martin-luther-king-video), where she commended the [removal of the Confederate flag](http://time.com/3930715/south-carolina-governor-nikki-haley-confederate-flag/) and called for an end to gun violence. “The spirit of those who came before should live within everyone who strives to uproot the systemic inequities that remain,” Clinton said. “… If you want change, it starts with you. So on this Martin Luther King Day, as we remember this giant of history, let us also think of Sybrina Fulton and everyone who gets up every morning and takes a very deep breath and gets to work trying to make a difference in our country and in the world,” she said, mentioning [Trayvon Martin’s](http://time.com/3715224/trayvon-martin-2012-anniversary-toure/) mother, who [endorsed Clinton for president](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/opinions/fulton-gun-violence/). **MORE**[Trayvon Martin’s Mom: ‘If They Refuse to Hear Us, We Will Make Them Feel Us’](http://time.com/3136685/travyon-sybrina-fulton-ferguson/) **Bernie Sanders** Like the other two Democratic presidential contenders, Bernie Sanders mentioned King during the [Democratic debate](http://time.com/4183952/democratic-debate-full-text-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/) on Sunday and also [spoke at the South Carolina statehouse](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/dem-hopefuls-commemorate-mlk-day-603898435558) on Monday. “I wonder if Dr. King was with us today, what would he say about a nation in which the top one tenth of one percent own more wealth than the bottom 90%?” Sanders said. **Martin O’Malley:** In the [Democratic debate](http://time.com/4183952/democratic-debate-full-text-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/) on Sunday, O’Malley mentioned King as he spoke about the [shooting at a historically black church in Charleston](http://time.com/3926112/charleston-shooting-latest/) that left nine worshipers dead in June. “I was born the year Dr. King delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. And I want to thank the people of South Carolina not only for hosting our debate here tonight, but also for what you taught all of us in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Mother Emmanuel Church. You taught us in fact, in keeping with Dr. King’s teaching, that love would have the final word when you took down the Confederate flag from your state house, let go of the past, and move forward,” O’Malley said. **Donald Trump** In his [speech at Liberty University](http://www.c-span.org/video/?403331-1/donald-trump-remarks-liberty-university), Trump dedicated what he said was a record-setting crowd to the civil rights leader. “It’s an honor to be here, and especially on Martin Luther King Day. We broke the record—you know we had the record for about three or four years the last time, and the first thing I said to Jerry and Becki \[Falwell\] when I got here: ‘Did we break the record?’ They said, ‘Yes, you did, by quite a bit.’ So we’ll dedicate that to Martin Luther King, a great man. And that’s a little bit of an achievement, I will tell you.” **Marco Rubio** Rubio released a [statement](http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/fighting-for-florida?ID=ff87d186-c667-45ec-8b01-738a37deb842) commending King and the examples he set for the country. “In the 21st century, we must follow the example set forth by Dr. King and expand the American Dream to ensure every American has access to equal opportunity,” Rubio said. “On the Eve of his death, Dr. King stated, “We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” It is now in our hands to stand united and continue to make our nation a better place for future generations.” **Jeb Bush** Bush invoked King’s legacy as he unveiled his [education plan](https://medium.com/@JebBush/restoring-the-right-to-rise-through-a-quality-education-a27ef314f2c#.n1qmutg15) on Monday, casting education as a civil rights issue and harkening back to his role as [“education governor”](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/jeb-bush-invokes-mlk-jr-as-he-unveils-education-plan-217934) of Florida. “As the nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King and his legacy today, I firmly believe that ensuring every individual has access to a quality education is the great civil rights challenge of our time,” Bush said. **Ted Cruz** Cruz used the holiday named for the civil rights leader to [announce an endorsement](https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-for-president-announces-endorsement-of-reverend-cl-bryant/) by African-American Baptist minister Reverend CL Bryant. “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a man for whom I have the utmost admiration and respect,” Cruz said. “King’s persistent, patient campaign against injustice, his wisdom, and his legacy continue to inspire generations of Americans. Now more than ever, we must accept King’s challenge to give the world an example of harmony and brotherhood. I am honored to have the support of Reverend CL Bryant, a minister who loves freedom and challenges injustice with a passion urgently needed in our times. I look forward to his leadership in the African-American community as we rally against the disastrous policies of the left and toward a bright American future.” ## Transcript >> I grew up hearing Dr. King. There was something about his voice, maybe about his appeal. >> Dr. King had collected a lot of social themes, and couplets, and words, and language. And he brought all the best of those years of speaking together in one gloriously magnificent knowing. >> I have a dream-- >> When he spoke that day on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he was preaching from his heart, from his soul, from his guts. >> As the day of the march drew near, I stayed at the Willard Hotel where Dr. King was staying. Now, among his advisers, there were those who were suggesting, " Martin, people are coming to the march in Washington because they're coming to hear you preach and there were others "-- And he said, " No, Dr. King, we have to give the kind of political direction that treats us to where we are. I was part of that group. And he was being very gracious. He said, " Well, thank you so much, but I'm gonna go up and work in speech and counsel with the Lord ." >> At the day of the speech, I'm standing on the platform about 50 feet behind him. >> I had no credentials, but I kind of crawled up the steps and backed my way in. >> Everybody was curious as to what this young man is going to say. As you would expect, We have large crowd like that. people had their own mini conversations going on, you know. >> But when Dr. King got up, it got quiet. I mean, it was like they were at church. [ unk ] A. Philip Randolph in this enormous voice. >> I have the pleasure to present to you, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. >> I couldn't get to him to wink my eye or to say to him like come on, come on, you can do it, you can do it. >> And after a couple of perfunctory introductory senses, I'm listening to his-- >> Five score years ago-- >> I concentrated on his words and what he was saying. As I'm listening, I see that he is reading. I had written out in longhand a possible opening paragraph. >> America has given the Negro people a bad check. >> And I did notice at a certain point he starts off reading. And at a certain moment, Mahalia Jackson, it erupted to him while he's speaking. Tell them about the dream, Martin. Tell them about the dream. His whole body language changed and he changed to what I call the baptist preacher's stance. And I said to the person standing next to me, whoever that was, I said, " These people don't know it, but they're about ready to go to church ." >> I have a dream that one day-- >> Yes! >> this nation will rise up. >> Like the greatest jazz musician, he just does an incredible solo. It was as if some transcendental terrestrial force had come down and taken over his body. >> I didn't know that Dr. King had left a script, but that's what was in there. >> And you stood in wonder as he spoke, as his words came out. >> My 4 little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today-- >> When-- In his talking and my mind wandering back to what I had been through and when he started talking about his children, you know, I felt like, wow, he's talking about me. >> You know it by then Dr. King is a musician. And if he was reciting a telephone book, the rhythms and transition to phrasing, you know, would be-- would bring you to an emotional acceptance. >> And once in southwest Georgia, he heard people signing a song about over my head I can see freedom in the air. And I think all of it just saw the King together. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation. >> We live in realities lots of times and somebody talks about the dream, you know, you get a certain image, but the image that he gave was a future. And it wasn't beyond our reality to think that certain things could happen. >> We were looking for leadership and he was offering it. The I have a Dream speech was a summon, a call to the collective conscience of America that we can be better than this. >> Free at last! >> Yes. >> Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last! ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4185190/martin-luther-king-day-presidential-candidates/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4185190/martin-luther-king-day-presidential-candidates/"},"headline":"7 Ways Presidential Candidates Invoked Martin Luther King Jr.","datePublished":"2016-01-19T17:25:56.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-05T08:41:28.459Z","description":"Candidates used the civil rights leader's legacy to promote their campaigns","url":"https://time.com/4185190/martin-luther-king-day-presidential-candidates/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7265746ac7582376/6988799f2dce0177109e766e/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7265746ac7582376/6988799f2dce0177109e766e/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"At United Nations Plaza, the Rev. 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