January 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day—a federal holiday which celebrates the life of the Baptist minister and social rights activist who played a key role in the civil rights movement which campaigned for racial equality in the United States. Americans will get a day off, with most schools and businesses set to close. And to celebrate, many cities around the country will be hosting various events and parades. Read more: Martin Luther King Jr. assassination anniversary: "I Have a Dream" speech full text and video Here is our pick of the MLK Day parades: Washington D.C. The District of Columbia was one of the first jurisdictions in the country to hold a parade in honor of MLK after he was assassinated in 1968. The capital's 38th annual event will begin assembling at 11:00 a.m. EST at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Good Hope Road SE, with check-in opening at 10:00 a.m. at the Anacostia Arts Center at 1231 Good Hope Road SE. "The parade will step off at 12:00 pm and proceed south on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE through downtown Anacostia," according to the organizers. "It will conclude at the campus of St. Elizabeth's East with a Health and Community Fair at the Gateway Pavilion located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE." Houston, Texas The Houston Grande parade is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Check in begins at 8:00 a.m. CT near Houston Community College Central Campus. Starting at 10:00 a.m., the route extends from the intersection of San Jacinto Street and Elgin Street in Mid-Town until the that of San Jacinto and Webster Street—running for about a mile and lasting two hours. According to the organizers, around 300,000 spectators are expected to attend. Miami, Florida The 42nd annual Miami parade will begin at 11 a.m. EST and is expected to last for around 2.5 hours. It will start in Liberty City at NW 54th Street and 10th Avenue, finishing at 32nd Avenue. The parade—which the organizers say is the oldest and largest of its kind in the U.S.—is expected to attract 500,000 spectators. "There are more than 100 entries that include corporate floats; federal, state, and local officials; police and military units; historic pioneers; high school and college marching bands; dance and drill teams; equestrians; classic and exotic cars; motorcycles; historic MD transit bus; civic, church, community, and veteran groups; and trade unions," the organizers wrote on the event website. Martin Luther King in Pictures: The Life and Times of the Civil Rights Icon Phoenix, Arizona The Phoenix march will begin staging around 8:30 a.m. at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and will kick off at 9:00 a.m., finishing at Margaret T. Hance Park where an MLK day festival will be taking place. There, revelers can enjoy food, interactive displays, art and entertainment. San Diego, California The San Diego march marks its 39th annual iteration and is coordinated this year by the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.—the oldest African American fraternity in the United States, founded in 1906, of which Dr. King was once a member. The parade begins at 2:00 p.m. on Harbor Drive and will finish Embarcadero, and is expected to take around three hours.<doc-sep>(JTA) — For many Jewish organizations, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to talk about the current state of black-Jewish relations. There’s a lot to talk about this year, from the controversy over ties between Women’s March organizer Tamika Mallory and Louis Farrakhan, to common cause over the rise of white supremacism, to an issue of Commentary magazine that took a pessimistic view of the relationship between African-Americans and Jews. But for those members of the Jewish community who also identify as black, it’s more complicated than whether the “relationship” is good or bad, up or down. JTA asked Jews of color to share their thoughts on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Their responses range from reflections on their family histories to takes on the Women’s March controversy and race relations in the United States. Here are their answers via email, which have been lightly edited for grammar and style. Marcella White Campbell is marketing director for Be’chol Lashon, an organization that educates about diversity in the Jewish community. Recently, I brought my children to the Lincoln Memorial, so that they could stand on the stairs with President Abraham Lincoln at their backs and look out over the Reflecting Pool. I wanted to bring to life for them the black-and-white footage of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech. In our fast-paced society, moving further and further into the future, it’s easy for them to believe that the civil rights movement happened a long time ago. Walking in the footsteps of King, they were able to understand how recently all this occurred, how recently my husband, a white Ashkenazi Jew, couldn’t even have married a Black woman like myself in states across the U.S. The civil rights movement didn’t happen a long time ago, and that work didn’t cease the moment the last Jim Crow law was overturned. The need to further that work — and keep that history alive — is something our Black and Jewish family intimately understands, and is work I’m proud to support as director of marketing for Be’chol Lashon, an organization that advocates for the diversity that has characterized the Jewish people throughout history and into the present day. Ben Faulding is a social work student and activist who lives in New York. The story of the Jew in America has been one of triumph. After many generations of slaughter and oppression we are flourishing. Anti-Semitism is the chronic syndrome we have never full eliminated, but we are (mostly) full participants in a society that had been developing for nearly 300 years. This society was built on the backs of others. Even those who have not directly participated in that oppression have enjoyed its fruits. African-Americans, however, are still hobbled by past and current discrimination and violence. We must acknowledge this. Which brings us to today. I don’t begrudge your hesitation, your discomfort and hurt at participating in a movement that brings you discomfort. That you are entitled to. I am disturbed by many of the so-called allies who demand that people like Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour fall in line and offer themselves on the altar of public accountability. What you are not entitled to is performative penance. Just to make this clear. In this fight, white Jews are allies. Linda Sarsour has been known to say “do not center yourself in the fight for someone else’s liberation.” King was very vocal in his opposition to anti-Semitism, and I believe he would have condemned Minister Louis Farrakhan. But it wouldn’t end there. He condemns not only the riots, but the conditions. Support for the Nation of Islam did not develop out of thin air. Farrakhan heard the voices of the unheard. And until you are willing to fill the role and guard the bodies of black women, protect the futures of black children, you have no right to make demands. You are out of line to demand that the vulnerable adhere to your conditions until their promises of freedom and justice have been met. You must serve; not be served. Tamar Manasseh is the founder of MASK, an organization that combats gun violence in Chicago. I can’t speak for anyone else, but this Jew of color will be hosting a discussion in Chicago about how to build bridges between Jews of all colors. For too long, the American Jewish community has turned a blind eye to some uncomfortable truths about ourselves; we cannot afford to ignore them any longer. Our discussion will be the first in what will hopefully become a national conversation about how to strengthen our community and face the challenges of being Jewish in 21st century America. Rebecca Pierce is a filmmaker, writer and activist. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I’m struck by both the strength of the bond between Black and Jewish communities, and how painfully far we still have to go in reconciling the intersections between them. I grew up on stories of Jewish participation in the civil rights movement, including my father’s rabbi, Arnold Jacob Wolf, marching in Selma and hosting Martin Luther King as a speaker at his temple at a time when King was seen as an extremist and not the ubiquitous icon he is today. These stories of risk-taking solidarity meant everything to me as a Black and Jewish kid who didn’t see any contradiction in being part of both communities. But as an adult, I’m finding that stories aren’t enough. The coalitional civil rights organizing of our current moment raises challenges we must learn to face together with grace and accountability rather than avoidance and the politics of disposability. We can’t dismiss every voice that challenges us, whether on issues of race or topics as fraught as Israel and Palestine. We can argue, we can push back, we can try to educate, but we must also be willing to learn and grow in the process. As the voices of Jews of Color and issues of race in the Jewish community come to the fore, we are seeing a shocking backlash from some who want to avoid uncomfortable questions that risk pushing needed voices out of our communities. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day we can honor the legacy of a man who gave his life for freedom by showing up for one another, sitting with the discomfort of our shared challenges, and having faith in ourselves and each other to fight for what’s right, even when it isn’t easy. Rabbi Shais Rishon, also known as MaNishtana, is an activist and author who has written about racism in the Orthodox community. As Martin Luther King Jr. Day arrives yet again, and in a year that has seen so much toxic gate-keeping (usually surrounding dissenting Jewish voices of color), demands for sweeping condemnations from non-Jewish communities while simultaneously not holding the same level of censure for ill-behaving Jewish figures, and a general refusal to acknowledge instances where — despite “ally-ship” — American Jewry can be complicit in the very same ideologies many Jewish fled from, a particular quote can’t help but come to mind from Dr. King’s “Letter from A Birmingham Jail”: First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.<doc-sep>Here are some important changes to traffic, transit and other public services you should make note of before you head out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. WASHINGTON — On Monday, Jan. 21, the nation rests from work to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr., who led the civil rights movement and was assassinated in 1968. Whether you’re partaking in service opportunities in honor of King or heading near the National Mall to see his memorial, here are some important changes to traffic, transit and other public services you should make note of before you head out. Most post offices and banks in the area will be closed Monday. All federal and most local government offices will also be closed. Traffic and transit Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at 11:30 p.m. Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. Parking at Metro-operated facilities will be free. Track work is also scheduled. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. In Virginia, HOV restrictions will be lifted in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia on Monday. ART — ART 41, 42, 43, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules. All other ART routes will not operate. — ART 41, 42, 43, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules. All other ART routes will not operate. STAR — The STAR Call Center will be closed and standing orders will not be provided. Please call beforehand to request a trip on the holiday or the day after. Fairfax County’s Fastran transportation services will not operate Monday. Montgomery County’s RideOn will operate on a holiday schedule. Prince George’s County TheBus will operate a regular schedule on Jan. 21, except Route 51. Regular operations for Route 51 will occur on Jan. 22. Call-A-Bus resumes on Jan. 22. In Howard County, the Regional Transportation Agency will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. See more transit changes. D.C. Trash and recycling will slide to the next day for the remainder of the week in neighborhoods where trash is typically collected once a week. In twice-a-week collection neighborhoods, Monday’s and Thursday’s collections will slide to Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday’s and Friday’s collections will slide to Wednesday and Saturday. Holiday tree collections will resume on Tuesday. The Fort Totten and Benning Road transfer stations will be closed and will reopen on Tuesday. Parking meters, residential parking, rush hour lane restrictions or tow abandoned vehicles will not be enforced except along the streetcar line. Virginia Commonwealth of Virginia offices (including courts & DMVs) will be closed Friday, Jan. 18 for Lee-Jackson Day. Alexandria Garbage and recycling will not be collected Monday and will be delayed by one day that week. All Alexandria Library branches will be closed Monday. The Alexandria Law Library will be closed on Friday and Monday. Parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits will not be enforced. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed on Jan. 18 and 21. On Monday, Jan. 21, the Chinquapin Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the Charles Houston Recreation Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All other recreation centers will be closed on Jan. 21. Arlington Parks will be open Jan. 21. All libraries will be closed. DMV and DMV Select will be closed. Parking meters will not be enforced. Trash, recycling and yard waste curbside routes will run on a regular schedule. There will be no mulch delivery. Fairfax County Public libraries in Fairfax County will be closed Monday. Residents should contact their trash and recycling collector directly for service schedule changes due to the holiday. All Neighborhood and Community Services will be closed Saturday, Jan. 19 through Monday, Jan. 21. Colvin Run Mill, Sully Historic Site and Green Spring Gardens Historic House will be closed Monday. Loudoun County Public libraries will be closed Monday. Prince William County Circuit court will be closed. The county landfill in Manassas will operate on regular hours. All libraries will be closed Monday. Stafford County All county government offices, courts and offices of the Rappahannock Area Health District will be closed Monday. Parks buildings will be closed. The Regional Landfill Residential Convenience Center and the Belman Road Recycling Center in Fredericksburg will be closed. All library branches will be closed Monday. Maryland Anne Arundel County All county offices are closed. Curbside collection of trash, recycling and yard waste will not be affected, but the waste management services facilities will be closed Monday. All libraries will be closed both Sunday, Jan. 20 and Monday, Jan. 21. The Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community will be closed Saturday, Jan. 19 for maintenance. Calvert County Calvert Library will be closed Monday. Charles County Charles County Public Library will be closed Monday. Frederick County County government offices will be closed Monday. The Animal Control Center will open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be curbside recycling pickup; Landfill and Reichs Ford Road Recycling Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Administrative offices will be closed. Howard County County government offices, courts, 50+ centers and animal shelter will be closed Monday. All parking regulations and fees will be in effect. Regular trash, recycling, food scrap and yard trim services will be in effect. The Alpha Ridge Landfill will be open. The Robinson Nature Center will be closed Monday. County parks and community centers will remain open. Howard County’s Restored Ellicott City Colored School will be open on Jan. 21; all other Department of Recreation and Parks’ historic sites remain closed for the season and will reopen in April. Montgomery County County liquor stores will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All public library branches will be closed Monday. Parking is free at public garages, lots and curbside meters. No trash or recycling collection will happen Monday; trash will be collected on a sliding schedule for the week. Aquatics programs and facilities are open, but all other recreational classes and programs are canceled. The administrative office of the rec center, as well as the senior and community centers will be closed Monday. Prince George’s County All county offices are closed except public safety agencies. All library branches will be closed Sunday, Jan. 20 and Monday, Jan. 21. The Mount Rainier branch is closed until further notice due to building issues. There will be no bulky trash pickups, but yard trim collections will occur Monday. Trash collection in county-contracted areas as well as curbside recycling collection will occur Jan. 22 through Jan. 25. The Electronics Recycling Acceptance Site and the Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site will be closed Monday. The animal services facility will be closed Monday.<doc-sep>
On what would have been his 90th birthday, thousands gathered at Garfield High School for a day of honoring and remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of this year's events was "affirmative action = justice," drawing attention to Intiative 1000, which would redefine affirmative action in the state. As it stands, Washington is one of eight states with laws on the books effectively banning affirmative action; I-1000 would, according to the Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition, "provide equal opportunities through recruitment, hiring, outreach, training, goal-setting and other methods designed to increase diversity." The group also partnered with Seattle Womxn Marching Forward, co-organizing and capping off a weekend of rallying, workshops, and marching. RELATED: Seattle Women's March 2019: Equality still 'not an easy fix' The 2019 march was also dedicated to Central District business owner and mainstay Charlene "DeCharlene" Williams, and Verlene Jones Davis, the first woman to chair the A. Phillip Randolph Institute." "Since the inception of the Seattle MLK march and rally these leaders have been key in bringing diverse organizations and community members together to create an all inclusive event that fostered legislative change," the group shared on the event's page. "From chairing different sub-committees to increasing participation from the community they supported the coalition in so many ways!" This year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events kicked off as they always do: an opportunity fair and workshops at Garfield High School in the Central District. After a rally at 11 a.m. in the gym, the demonstrators marched downtown to Westlake Park. An estimated 5,000 people turned up for the day's official march. As they marched, many of the folks chanted "racists, we will replace you!" The day featured several speakers, including former Seattle mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver, activist and radio host Eddie Rye Jr., and Chukundi Salisbury, the founder and executive director of Service is a Lifestyle nonprofit. "Who is here today with their family?" Salisbury asked the crowd. "I encourage parents to have that difficult conversation with their children about the brutality of the Civil Rights Era that continues today." At the rally at Westlake Park, Rev. Bianca Davis-Lovelace spoke with a focus on coming to MLK Day celebrations with a goal of dismantling racism. "Don't march and serve on this day if you're going to go back to your place of employment and remain silent when your Black co-worker is being mistreated on the job. Don't march and serve on this day if you're not going to call out your fellow white folks who like to call the police on Black folks for just existing," Davis-Lovelace said. "Now is not the time to be phony, kicking it with Black folks. We need true allies who are willing to get in the trenches with us. If you're not ready, step back and make room for the ones who are." Seattle's MLK Day events will wrap up with a free community meal at the Garfield Commons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (though the time is tentative, pending timing of other events). This is the 37th annual celebration of MLK Day in Seattle, which resides in King County (now named in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., after legislation in 2005). It's also the 400th year since Black people were first brought to the country as slaves in 1619. Nationally, the day was observed with demonstrations across the country, including a day of talks at the Riverside Church in New York City.