On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, millions across the nation honor the legacy of the civil rights champion–one that the FBI worked tirelessly to destroy.
After King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963, the FBI labeled him the “most dangerous and effective Negro leader in the country,” but their attack on the work of his lifetime didn’t begin there.
According to CNN, tens of thousands of FBI memos from the 1960s disclose the law enforcement agency’s “fanatical zeal” in their pursuit of the minister who stood on the frontline in the nonviolent fight against injustice. It’s the reason why many couldn’t help but resist the FBI’s attempt to partake in the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life on Monday (Jan. 16).
Today, the FBI honors the Rev. Martin L. King Jr. and his incredible career fighting for civil rights. #MLKDAY pic.twitter.com/9UEulHmL8a
— FBI (@FBI) January 16, 2017
Without fail, Twitter served up a swift reminder of the FBI’s dark past with the late hero after catching wind of their commemorative tweet about the threat of injustice, no less. Check out some of the best reactions below:
@FBI But y’all made his life a living hell.
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 16, 2017
oh girl, @FBI pic.twitter.com/go3SM7IPlJ
— Heben Nigatu (@heavenrants) January 16, 2017
@FBI “boi if you don’t get…” pic.twitter.com/3IVIOaE8Dk
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) January 16, 2017
Remember when Y’all blackmailed MLK & tried to convince him to kill himself? @FBI pic.twitter.com/OscI3GFWTl
— Stefan BC 🌹 (@Stefan_BC) January 16, 2017
What if we stop the sunshine quoting of MLK and quoted the FBI instead #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/Bo0MdtXl08
— Janelle Quibuyen (@PHATLIP) January 16, 2017
@FBI pic.twitter.com/1Yu8B7vvkC
— Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) January 16, 2017
@FBI pic.twitter.com/Rx73x68vZW
— Dwayne David Paul (@DwayneDavidPaul) January 16, 2017
.@FBI pic.twitter.com/wIcz2CwJH8
— N. K. Jemisin (@nkjemisin) January 16, 2017
“Today, the FBI honors Rev. Martin Luther King jr..”
Everybody: pic.twitter.com/UiQLPAAmIG— Beke (@BekeGSW) January 16, 2017
MLK as he stares down from heaven watching the @FBI get dragged all over Twitter: #MLKDay#ReclaimMLKpic.twitter.com/VXZvAg5M2u
— #J20 (@Delo_Taylor) January 16, 2017