40 years since Seattle recognized its first MLK Day
- The big annual march through Seattle starts at 12:30 p.m. at Garfield High School. Find more information about the MLK Day schedule here.
- The Northwest African American Museum is opening Monday for the first time since it closed during the pandemic.
It's been 40 years since Seattle recognized its first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, the city is honoring that milestone with the theme: 40 years of continuing King's mission.
"The spirit of Dr. King is the spirit of love and tolerance, and at a time where maybe people haven't been this intolerant in a long time, it's good to remember that we're all just people," said Bobby Alexander, vice chair of the Seattle MLK Coalition.
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"When we have a polarizing political environment people are reminded of politics more often, and they're reminded of the issues more often, and not even speaking on extreme ideologies but just the idea that where people disagree now they are less likely to share community."
A range of community events will take place on MLK Day (Monday, Jan. 16, 2023), such as workshops on early childhood and civil rights. Youth will give a presentation on racism in school.
"We have a job fair in the morning with our workshops," Alexander said. "Our workshops are always an opportunity to become educated, and our program actually starts at 11 a.m. at Garfield High School. So come out to our event, attend the workshops, go to the march and rally where you'll be entertained and educated."
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"You can talk about economic stratification, gentrification, and we can throw vocabulary words all around, but basically it's more expensive to live now than it has been in a long time," Alexander said. "So what are the reasons you would come out this year? It would be those things, but also a desire to join folks out in community in the spirit of Dr. King."
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Paige Browning
Newscaster
Paige hosts midday newscasts and monitors news of significance to the Puget Sound region. She hopped over Washington’s mountains to join KUOW, after hosting news and reporting at Spokane Public Radio since 2011. She began her start in radio while a journalism student at University of Montana, by sharing stories with KUFM. Paige was raised in the mountains and rivers around Spokane. In her spare time she cheers on the Mariners in the summer, and hopes for snow in the winter.
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