Seattle celebrated MLK Day 2023 with a day of education, rallying, and marching centered around the city’s Central District in a milestone anniversary of the annual events marking the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15th, 1929.
The Seattle Martin Luther King Organizing Coalition said Monday marked 40 years of the annual celebration and remembrances as a countywide event.
“The first forty years were but the beginning,” the coalition’s statement on the 2023 event read. “Seattle’s annual MLK celebration aims to inspire this and future generations to live up to Dr. King’s dream of achieving the Beloved Community.”
#MLKDay2023 march in #Seattle pic.twitter.com/cWivgJe5S0
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) January 16, 2023
In addition to Monday’s rally and march, the day was celebrated with internships, workshops, youth led programming and a job fair at Garfield High School. You can learn more about the coalition and supporting the annual event here.
Monday’s march included a stop and protest outside 12th Ave’s county Children and Family Justice Center. The new youth jail and justice facility opened in 2020 despite efforts to shrink the population of incarcerated youth in the county.
The Central District was also busy Monday with the return of an important community asset as the Northwest African American Museum reopened to the public for the first time in three years after closing during the pandemic. The line to enter was reported as long — but fast moving.
Meanwhile, the MLK FAME Community Center was also busy Monday as Central District resident Joy Hollingsworth launched her campaign for the District 3 seat on the Seattle City Council currently held by Kshama Sawant.
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