A group of young people lead the MLK Jr. Day march on Jan. 20. They're holding a large sign that reads "We Rise Against Project 2025" and a crowd is visible behind them.

A group of young people lead the MLK Jr. Day march on Jan. 20.(Photo: Susan Fried)

PHOTO ESSAY | MLK Jr. Day March 2025

3 min read

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.

Fai Mathews, who has attended the MLK Jr. Day rally and march at Garfield for decades, enjoys the program at Garfield High School. She's holding a sign depicting Martin Luther King Jr. that reads "Happy Birthday" and smiling while the people around her clap.

Fai Mathews, who has attended the MLK Jr. Day rally and march at Garfield for decades, enjoys the program at Garfield High School.(Photo: Susan Fried)

The Throwbacks perform at the MLK Jr. Day rally in the Garfield High School gym. The photo depicts two people mid-move while dancing and smiling.

The Throwbacks perform at the MLK Jr. Day rally in the Garfield High School gym.(Photo: Susan Fried)

Kevin Allen, with the Seattle King County African American Reparations Committee, leads a workshop on reparations during the annual celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A shot from above of all of the people attending the opportunity fair at Garfield High School; numerous tables and attendees are visible throughout a large room.

Hundreds of people attended the opportunity fair during the MLK Jr. Day celebration at Garfield High School. A variety of services were offered to job seekers, including career path training and resume support.(Photo: Susan Fried)

Debra Holden Davis waits for the start of the annual MLK Jr. Day rally. She's wearing a hoodie that reads "Good Trouble" and smiling.

Debra Holden Davis waits for the start of the annual MLK Jr. Day rally. She and her family have attended the event for years.(Photo: Susan Fried)

The Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition presented Amarr Murphy-Paine's family with a plaque honoring their son during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally. The coalition also honored Dr. Maxine Mimms.(Photo: Susan Fried)

Thousands of marchers walk down Union Street past a building featuring a portrait of Dr. Maxine Mimms during the annual MLK Jr. Day march on Jan. 20. Many different kinds of signs are being carried by the crowd, including signs about police control, immigration, and Palestinian political prisoners.

Thousands of marchers walk down Union Street past a building featuring a portrait of Dr. Maxine Mimms during the annual MLK Jr. Day march on Jan. 20.(Photo: Susan Fried)

Faye Mathews carries the same photo of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. she's carried in every MLK Jr. Day march for decades. It shows his portrait and reads "Happy Birthday." In this photo, she's marching while carrying it and looking directly at the camera.

Faye Mathews carries the same photo of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. she's carried in every MLK Jr. Day march for decades.(Photo: Susan Fried)

People carry a variety of signs at the MLK Jr. Day march.

Thousands of people attended the march.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A close-up of Jaelynn Scott speaking at Jimi Hendrix Park. She is wearing glasses and a jean jacket and speaking into a microphone.

Jaelynn Scott, executive director of the Lavender Rights Project, speaks about the attack on the civil rights of transgender people at the outdoor rally at Jimi Hendrix Park at the end of the march.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A woman stands listening to a speaker and holding a sign that reads "Stick With Love." She's wearing a fashionable hat, coat, and leather gloves.

After arriving at Jimi Hendrix Park, a woman listens to a speech by Jaelynn Scott.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A man and little boy relax after marching from Garfield High School to Jimi Hendrix Park.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A young man holds a sign that reads "I'm here for my abuelita and all others without a voice."

During the MLK Jr. Day march, a young man holds a sign honoring his grandmother and other people who might be affected by President Trump's new immigration policy.(Photo: Susan Fried)

A group of young people leading the MLK Jr. Day march, many of them holding signs that read "We Must Persist, We Will Resist."

A group of young people leading the MLK Jr. Day march.(Photo: Susan Fried)

Thousands of people participated in the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day march from Garfield High School to Jimi Hendrix Park on Jan. 20. This photo shows the large crowd of marchers stretching off into the distance, with many different kinds of colorful signs visible above them.

Thousands of people participated in the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day march from Garfield High School to Jimi Hendrix Park on Jan. 20.(Photo: Susan Fried)

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Photo Essay