Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 19th, and people nationwide will commemorate the federal holiday that honors the renowned civil rights activist—and Washington, D.C., is no different!
Across the District, Washingtonians and institutions will honor King and his legacy in D.C., where a memorial stands in his honor and where he made his legendary “I have a dream…” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.
To help you commemorate the day, we’ve rounded up ways you can honor the day around the District:
1. Take part in the 21st Annual MLK Holiday D.C. Peace Walk & Parade
This year’s peace rally is going to take place on MLK Jr. Day (Jan. 19th), taking place at the corner of Firth Sterling Ave and Sumner Rd SE at 9:30 am.
The peace walk will commence from the site of the peace rally at 10:30 am, and the walk will be around 2 miles in total along Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE.
At the end of the peace walk, you’ll find a health and wellness fair, which will run from 10:30 am until 2 pm at the PNC parking lot.
2. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Situated along the Tidal Basin and sculpted from granite, King’s is the first memorial that honors an African American person along the entire National Mall.
Take the time to walk around his memorial and read the numerous quotations from some of King’s most renowned speeches inscribed along the sculpture and its walls.
Here, at the “Stone of Hope” statue, an annual wreath-laying ceremony will be held at 9 am, featuring speeches from notable social justice and civil rights advocates.
3. Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture to attend ‘Remember the Dream’ event honoring MLK Jr.’s legacy
In commemoration of the day, the museum is hosting an event between 11 am and 2 pm that honors MLK Jr.’s pursuit of social justice and civil rights.
The event will explore the significance of the museum’s new exhibit, ‘At the Vanguard’, and also feature a lot of opportunities for families to enjoy craft workshops together while enjoying live music.
4. Offer your service and volunteer in a way that benefits your community
MLK Jr. Day is also considered to be the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, a designation meant to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
While there is certainly no shortage of NGOs around the District that would appreciate volunteers, the reality is that you can do something small and still have an impact!
Here are a few ways you can be of service without having to commit to any major endeavors:
- Pick up litter in your neighborhood.
- Bring canned foods, old blankets, or used jackets to a nearby community assistance center.
- Clean up and help to organize shared community spaces.
- Offer free babysitting services to a parent who could use a break.
- Knock on your neighbor’s door and ask if they need help getting anything small done.
- Leave a generous tip if you dine out or order delivery.