Washingtonians are honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday by giving back to their communities, marching for peace and justice and reflecting on the civil rights leader’s legacy in the District and beyond.
Many people are expected to stop by the MLK memorial along the National Mall in Southwest D.C. to honor Dr. King's legacy. The tributes will continue with a wreath-laying ceremony at 9 a.m.
“The mall is comprised of monuments of presidents and war memorials. But this is the only memorial that represents peace,” King’s son, Martin Luther King III, said.
More than 120 organizations and individuals were set to join D.C.’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Peace Walk and Parade on Monday.
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Rallying around the 2023 theme to “recapture the dream,” a crowd of marchers gathered with floats, dance crews and activists near the R.I.S.E. Center at St. Elizabeth’s at 11 a.m. The parades joined with participants in a Peace Walk to walk along the street named for King.
Mayor Muriel Bowser was set to march in the parade, joined by D.C. residents.
“We’re going to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in grand style today,” organizer Stuart Anderson said.
There will also be a Health and Wellness Fair in the parking lot near 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
It’s often said that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on, not off, as people across the country heed King’s call to serve one's community. One such call is carved into the stone of the south wall of the MLK memorial in D.C.
"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in," the inscription reads.
Across the DMV, community members came together to clean up parks and trails, pack care packages for neighbors in need and more. Here are events you can join.
The Kennedy Center is hosting a musical tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. featuring Leslie Odom Jr. on the Millennium Stage. The “Let Freedom Ring” ticket giveaway for begins Monday at 4:30 p.m. before the show at 6 p.m.
