President-elect Donald Trump lashed out Saturday at a prominent civil rights icon and lawmaker who said he is skipping next week's inauguration ceremony because he sees the New York businessman's election as illegitimate.

Trump aimed his latest Twitter blast at longtime congressman John Lewis and the majority-black district in Georgia he represents, drawing widespread criticism just days before the holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

A park near the monument to King was the endpoint Saturday of the first major protest in Washington ahead of Trump's January 20 inauguration: nearly 2,000 people rallied both in honor of King and against the president-elect.

Lewis, whose district includes Atlanta and surrounding areas, on Friday became the most high-profile Democratic lawmaker to boycott Trump's inauguration.

"I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president," Lewis told NBC's "Meet the Press" talk show in an interview on Friday.

Early Saturday, Trump fired back at him.

"Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results," Trump said on Twitter.

"All talk, talk, talk -- no action or results. Sad!"

(France24)