Martin Luther King Jr. Day was used by various dishonest politicians nationwide, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington’s 5th District congresswoman. She garnered little support during her speech at the Spokane Convention Center Rally.

The rally was followed by the annual Unity March, which included thousands of participants, such as 2018 political candidates Lisa Brown and Matthew Sutherland.

“Cathy McMorris has been irresponsible by not holding her party member, Trump, to a higher standard,” said activist and former WSU Black Student Union President Khalil Pettway. “Instead of recognizing his racist commentary and seemingly endless apathy towards under-represented groups, she chooses to ignore the road Martin Luther King Jr. would have taken.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a hypocritical choice for McMorris Rodgers to take advantage of.

King left an important legacy for our nation’s future generations. His movement was noble because he did not aspire for any personal or financial gains. The civil rights movement pushed our nation to recognize our societal abnormalities as far as discrimination and racial segregation.

During McMorris Rodgers’ speech, she was booed and heckled by many participants in the crowd. Her speech was immediately interrupted by the crowd when she said, “I’m honored to serve as the honorary co-chair of the 2018 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage.”

Anyone passionate about civil rights should have been the first to criticize Trump’s consistent racist statements and slurs, including his most recent shameful ones about Haiti and African countries a few days ago. I would also assume that they would have a record of speaking out for social injustice.

However, McMorris Rodgers’s policies show that she values some of her constituents and party donors over many others.

“I have very strong feelings about politicians using Martin Luther King Jr. Day for their political interest,” said Pettway. “Very seldom is the true narrative of the relationship between one of our most fearless freedom fighters and this nation told.”

King would never have supported a travel ban, turning away refugees escaping death or turned a blind eye to Trump calling other countries “s—holes.”

McMorris Rodgers, empty rhetoric about Martin Luther King Jr. Day will not help your political image. Action will.

You have been indifferent to many embarrassments in the White House despite some of your Republican colleagues’ strong stances against them. Your silence on the issue either indicates agreement with the president’s remarks, or simply shows that they’re not topics worthy of discussion for you. When I speak of silence and refer to action, I mean at least an official statement on your social media accounts or TV.

You put the weekly effort into going live on Facebook to talk with your constituents, but you never answer any of their questions related to controversial societal issues. You continue to use vague and outdated political language, and we’re tired of it.

Your political history of voting for the unjust tax bill, horrible healthcare policies and lobbyist interests can never represent someone like King, who genuinely cared for his community.