On Saturday, December 9th Mississippi opened a brand new civil rights museum that specifically highlighting the strides that were made in the state.

Civil Rights leaders like John Lewis and Derrick Johnson were invited to speak on the day of the opening ceremony but declined. Why?

Because Donald Trump confirmed his attendance days before the event. John Lewis says that Trump attending the opening is not only “an insult” to him, but for everyone who fought for the equal rights of African-Americans.

And he’s right.

If you don’t know who John Lewis is, he is a current state representative of Georgia who marched side by side with Dr.King. He was a leader of the SNCC who helped during the Mississippi Freedom Summer, which helped open ‘freedom schools’ and encouraged African-Americans to register to vote in the 1960’s (Mississippi was the lowest city with an African-American voting rate at a 7%). This helped to eventually lead to Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited discrimination from voting registries.

John Lewis spent most of his early years fighting for his life to achieve equality for black people. Despite the racist rallies, despite the death threats, John Lewis continued to stand up for the black community. Being one of the last civil rights leader alive, John Lewis is an extremely important piece of black history that we have left. Lewis was one of, if not the most, important person to be at that opening. His history bleeds through that museum.

For him to be insulted enough by Donald Trump to not attend an event that praises all the milestones that he has accomplished, speaks volumes.

And if you don’t understand why he feels like he can’t attend, then you’re a part of the problem.

When Donald Trump began his campaign, there was constantly a spotlight that showed how much he did not care for people of color. From attempting to build a wall that divides Mexico from the United States to being grateful that a KKK headmaster donated to his campaign.

Donald Trump has shown that people of color do not matter to him. So why did attend the event? He didn’t care for the lives of black people when he put half of the blame on peaceful protesters during the tragedy of Charleston, so why step on the toes of the people who do care?

To John Lewis-- thank you. The work you have put in so that young people can live the lives that they do today will never go unnoticed. Thank you for inspiring the future leaders of tomorrow, and encouraging people of color to never be spoken over. Just like White America, we deserve to be heard.

To Donald Trump-- maybe you should write ‘better judgement’ under your new year's resolution list.