'How dare you, Mr. Trump?'

Reverend Al Sharpton rebuked newly sworn-in President Donald Trump for his campaign promise to pardon more than 1,500 people who had been convicted of crimes, including attacking law enforcement officers, during a riot at the U.S. capitol four years ago.

"How are you, Mr. Trump, on the federal holiday of a prince of peace and nonviolence going to excuse those that caused death of police in the nation's capitol? How dare you Mr. Trump?," Sharpton said on Monday.

Hours after taking the oath of office, Mr. Trump made good on his promise signing full, complete and unconditional pardons for all of the Jan 6 rioters who were convicted of attacks on the U.S. Capitol, including acts of violence that led to the deaths of five police officers and injuries of another 140.

Within 24 hours the Central Detention Facility in Washington, D.C. began processing about two dozen of the "Jan. 6 rioters" for release.

About 50 people from Illinois are expected to be pardoned.

“This action by President Trump is a national embarrassment," Illinois senator Dick Durbin said in a statement. "These law enforcement officers risked their lives for us—and some of them died as a result of this attack, America owes these brave law enforcement officers an apology for this attempt to whitewash the truth of January 6.”

Among them will be William Lewis, 58, of Burbank, who on January 17, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,761.00 in restitution. Lewis previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

Sharpton juxtaposed the pardons with Trump's refusal to offer an apology for calling for death for "the Central Park Five," who as teens in 1990 were wrongfully convicted of the brutal rape of a White investment banker in Central Park in New York City.

Traveling with Sharpton was Korey Wise, who at 16 was coerced into signing a false confession and spent more than thirteen years in prison before being exonerated by DNA. It is Wise, Sharpton said, who should have been invited to the inauguration ceremonies.

"Raise your hand Korey Wise....I want [Trump] to know that Korey Wise is still alive. There is no death penalty," Sharpton said.

Wise has traveled with Sharpton the past year to tell the story of the Central Park Five, including a stop in Chicago in August 2024 where he and other survivors addressed the Democratic National Convention.

In Illinois, as as many as 300 people have remained incarcerated for decades while challenging wrongful convictions.

Sharpton spoke at an MLK Day event at the historic Metropolitan AME church one of the oldest Black churches in Washington D.C. and less than three miles from the U.S. Capitol. Founded in 1838, the church is the scene of many historic events in the civil rights movement – including the funerals of Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks. On inauguration day in 2013, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended services at the church.

This marked the first time that the MLK holiday coincided with a presidential inauguration.

Marshall E. Hatch, pastor of New Mount Pilgram Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago also addressed the audience of about 300 people who arrived to Washington, D.C. by bus.

Hatch discussed the legacy of Frederick Douglass, his influential writings on citizenship and his calls for America to embrace immigrants in his 1869 lecture tour "Composite Nation."

"Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, owes his citizenship to Frederick Douglass," Hatch said.

The rally also served as the launch of an effort his National Action Network will take to counter Trump's plan to roll back initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in America.