--- 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: 2026-02-22T14:14:44.412Z 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=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 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=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Ways Presidential Candidates Invoked Martin Luther King Jr.  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jan 19, 2016 5:25 PM UTC  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April, 1967. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April, 1967.John Littlewood—Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images  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.” ```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":"2026-02-22T14:14:44.412Z","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 topic"],"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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