Valley group gathers to emphasize unity as inauguration, MLK day coincide
Monday marks both inauguration day and Martin Luther King, Jr. day in the United States, a rare and, to some, uneasy combination.
A group of human rights activists in Youngstown want to send a message that whatever a new administration brings, they plan to stay focused on making sure all people are treated equally.
A gathering is being held Saturday at the First Universalist Unitarian church in Youngstown for a "Weekend of Service."
Organized under the banner of "Help Over Hate," the gathering is focused on learning how to support traditionally marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ community, immigrants and women.
They say they are concerned over the potential for the "Project 2025" agenda to guide the incoming Trump administration.
Project 2025 is the blueprint for governing under the next Republican president and contains far-reaching provisions for making deep cuts in social programs, limiting the rights of minority groups and reforming education to remove references to the longterm impacts of racial discrimination and slavery from American education.
Trump denied having being influenced by the document on the campaign trail, but has since nominated several of its key authors to roles in his new administration.
The event was one of many held across the country, organized by a group called Indivisible, a network of progressive activists formed in response the Donald Trump's first election in 2016.