Monday, January 15 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. It's a federal holiday, commemorating the birthday of the civil rights activist whose namesake. Many social media users posted messages celebrating his birthday. However, the FBI's post on X received a lot of scrutiny and was immediately flagged by a community note.
For those who don't know, community feedback is a relatively new feature on the platform that allows people on X to vote to add more context to posts to avoid misinformation. The FBI's post honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was tagged with one such note referencing the FBI's previous actions against MLK.
The memo received great attention among the wider followers on the site, and spread very quickly. X user @FearedBuck called it “the craziest community note ever.”
“The FBI Involved in Surveilling King”: A community note on the FBI post about Martin Luther King, Jr.
MLK is celebrated around the world as one of the most influential civil rights activists of the last century. He embodied the spirit of nonviolent resistance in the numerous protests in which he participated during his life. His fight to gain equal rights for the African American population influenced millions to join the struggle against discrimination and Jim Crow laws.
Born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister by profession and devoted his life to the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
He was the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where he organized and participated in boycotts and peaceful protests to influence change in public policy.
The FBI was repeatedly accused of taking several actions against him during his life, with MLK subjected to tactics including surveillance and sending anonymous letters.
The above community note also includes several sources from CBS News and NPR to support its claims.
The FBI's post on X backfired, with nearly all of the comments mocking the organization. Many pointed out that it had been reported by the community, and the FBI had trolled the memes.
Below are some reactions to the post about Martin Luther King Jr.
The original post about MLK contained a photo of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., with the caption “#FBI honors one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement and reaffirms its commitment to Dr. King's legacy.” Fairness and equal justice for all.”
