On a cold but beautiful sunny January day, thousands of people attended the 42nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and march at Garfield High School. The Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition put on a full day of activities, including an opportunity fair and workshops before the rally and march. An overflow crowd filled the gym for speeches and performances on this year's theme, "We Rise Against Project 2025." The event honored the memory of Dr. Maxine Mimms and Amarr Murphy-Paine, a Garfield student who was shot and killed last June.
The march kicked off from the high school and made its way to Jimi Hendrix Park for a smaller rally.
Debra Holden Davis, whose family has attended the event for years, said it was a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., especially in the current political climate.
Check out some of the scenes of the workshops, rally, and march below.
Help keep BIPOC-led, community-powered journalism free — become a Rainmaker today.