MLK HOLIDAY DC PEACE WALK

JANUARY 18, 2025
More Details Coming Soon

PEACE WALK HISTORY:

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Peace Walk is held annually on the federal MLK holiday. The Peace Walk is coordinated by the Coalition for Peace, a group of individuals and non-profits dedicated to peace and positivity for the Washington DC metropolitan communities.

Over a thousand ‘Peace Walkers’ join annually in the two-mile walk along MLK Ave in Southeast DC. Notable previous year attendees include Nick Cannon, Mayor Muriel Bowser, former Mayor and Current Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, radio personality Donnie Simpson, music virtuoso Blake Miles Hopkins, and the late civil rights legend Dick Gregory who spoke at the beginning and end of our 2014 Peace Walk.

MLK HOLIDAY DC PARADE

Register at: https://2025mlkhdc.eventbrite.com 

JANUARY 18, 2025
11 AM  MLK Parade @ Entertainment & Sports Arena

Note: this year’s event will be held indoors at ESA.

Please check back often, details are subject to change as we finalize planning. 

PARADE HISTORY:

The D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Parade was conceived in 1977 by the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, founder of The Washington Informer and co-founder of the United Black Fund, along with his wife, the late Ward 8 Councilmember Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq., and the late Ralph “Petey” Greene, a community activist and radio personality. Thanks to these three renowned civic leaders, the District of Columbia was one of the first jurisdictions in the nation to hold a parade honoring Dr. King following his untimely death on April 4, 1968. It helped in the effort to establish a national holiday in Dr. King’s honor and today it reinforces the work being done by government agencies, community non-profit organizations and private citizens to promote peace and non-violence locally and around the world.

The parade began in 1979, six years before Kings’s birthday became a federal holiday. Across the nation and the world, Dr. King’s life and legacy is commemorated by a day of service and promoted as A Day On and Not a Day Off.  The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade symbolizes the need to continue Dr. King’s work and reinforces the idea reflected in his words, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Those who believe in Dr. King’s message are considered members of the Coalition for Peace and are invited to join the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Parade every year.

MLK Holiday DC Annual Prayer Breakfast

More Details Coming Soon

A multi-cultural and intergenerational event with clergy and faith leaders from the DMV. Feast with us and be spiritually fed in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s breakfast will be held in-person.

Please check our website for other events we have scheduled to honor Dr. King’s legacy and continue to build on the work he started.

6th Annual MLK Holiday DC Hopeful Healing Health and Wellness Fair

Focus: Meeting the needs of mental health, giving hope, and equipping the community with resources and services needed.

Registration is Required for each attendee age 18 and over.

The Wellness Fair gives priority to exhibitors who provide health services (for example, blood pressure, diabetes and other medical screening, life saving demonstrations, nutritional information, and chiropractic and massage therapist services).

The MLK Holiday DC Health & Wellness Fair will take place on Saturday, January 18th. Following are details you should know and plan for:

Location
More Details Coming Soon

Load In
9am to 9:45am
**Due to traffic shutdowns, we urge you to set up early
Upon arrival, sign-in with Jaren at the entrance of the parking lot
The fair will start at 11am to 1pm

What to bring with you
Bring your own table and chairs
**exhibitors may NOT distribute food

What will be provided
We will provide assigned exhibit space

Parking
Street parking only

Load Out
2pm
We ask that you staff your table during the entire fair

If you have questions, please email wwhrenjr@gmail.com or telephone John at 703-343-5186.

More Details Coming Soon

MLK Holiday DC Community Service Project

On the day of the holiday, would you like to watch or walk in the parade AND do a little community service? If so, please consider helping to clean the streets on and near the parade route.
The cleanup project takes place from Noon to 2:00 pm on the day of the holiday.

To participate in the project, pick up supplies at our table at the Health and Community Fair. Look for the Health and Community Fair tent, near the parade’s reviewing stand.

To let us know if you’re planning to help with the cleanup project, please email john.zottoli@gmail.com or call John at 703-343-5186.

D.C. Student Essay Contest

More Details Coming Soon

The Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday Committee of Washington, DC in partnership with the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute Alumni Association and our Community Partners have joined together to sponsor The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Essay Contest.