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March for Justice: Honoring King's Legacy on January 18

1/17/2026

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March for Justice

The event will occur January 18 at 11 a.m., starting at Firth Sterling Avenue and ending at Marion Barry Avenue.
The march's theme, "The Struggle is Real! THE FIGHT IS STILL!", emphasizes ongoing justice efforts.
A peace rally at 9:30 a.m. precedes the march, with concerts and service projects, including the "Let Freedom Ring" concert at Howard Theatre, all aimed at honoring King's legacy.

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Joseph Advocates Relocation

The yearly "Let Freedom Ring!" concert celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. will move to the Howard Theatre this year for cost-saving reasons.
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, former Kennedy Center artistic director, supports the move due to misalignment with the current administration and criticizes anti-equity hypocrisy.
The concert will take place January 19 at 6 p.m., featuring rapper Common and a new song by Nolan Williams Jr.

History

Historical Context

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, led by figures like A. Philip Randolph and John Lewis, drew over 250,000 participants advocating for economic and racial justice. This pivotal event, highlighted by Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, built on earlier civil rights efforts, including the 1941 March on Washington Movement, which sought to end employment discrimination during World War II.

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March for Justice

The event will occur January 18 at 11 a.m., starting at Firth Sterling Avenue and ending at Marion Barry Avenue.
The march's theme, "The Struggle is Real! THE FIGHT IS STILL!", emphasizes ongoing justice efforts.
A peace rally at 9:30 a.m. precedes the march, with concerts and service projects, including the "Let Freedom Ring" concert at Howard Theatre, all aimed at honoring King's legacy.

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