WASHINGTON– Hundreds of D.C. area residents gathered in the Entertainment and Sports Arena to honor Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 18 in the best way they know how– uplifting their community at home in the community.
A local school drumline sets the tone for the event with an opening performance at the Entertainment and Sports Arena on Jan. 18. Photo credit: Dara Karadsheh
Hosted by MLK Holiday D.C., the celebration invited people from across D.C. and its surrounding areas to participate in its 20th annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade and Health and Wellness Fair. Like the upcoming inauguration festivities, the annual MLK event shifted inside because of cold weather impacting the area.
Marching groups included girl scouts, educators, fraternities, sororities, freemasons, students, dancers and cheerleaders. The stadium boomed with drumlines performed by local students and cheers of support from the crowd of about 800 to 1,000 spectators.
A local fire rescue unit marches and chants at the 20th annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade held inside this year at the Entertainment and Sports Arena Jan. 18. Photo credit: Dara Karadsheh
But local community groups brought not only highlighted the civil rights leader’s message of peace and justice but stressed the importance of drug use education and prevention.
“Preventing drug use, and also hopefully helping the people in recovery not relapse into drug use is very important in our community because we want people to live healthy lives,” said Rosalind Parker, president of Bridging Resources and Communities, a nonprofit community center focused on health education.
“And also, obviously in honor of Doctor King himself, I mean, everything that he stood for about being of service to the community,” said Parker, who directs the Wards 7 and 8 DC Prevention Center, a project of the community center. “What better way to be of service for them than to try to save a life?”
Nura Greenlane, program manager at the center, said it is important for community groups to address the opioid crisis in the nation’s capital. “It’s a medical emergency, and that’s why here in this place, in this space. It’s important that we connect with the community directly,” she said.
According to Howard University Hospital in Washington, the city has close to 400 opioid-related deaths each year, contributing to the third highest opioid mortality rate in the country.
“Dr. King also talked about health. And this is a health issue,” Greenlane added. “And so, he would really support any effort that really uplifts the community and helps to address a crisis. And that’s what we’re doing in his name and his memory and all of the work that he did in our community.”
Wendy Glenn, Nura Greenlane, Geraldine Bolden, Eric Mullins, Rosalind Parker, and two volunteers stop by the Wards 7 and 8 DC Prevention Center booth at the health and wellness fair, part of the MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade event at the Entertainment and Sports Arena Jan. 18. Photo credit: Dara Karadsheh
No contribution was too small at the MLK Peace Walk and Parade. Tiajiah Fuller, 21, has been volunteering since she was in high school and gave her time to support her community this MLK holiday.
“I just always like to give back to my community, and it’s for a good cause,” Fuller said. You know, there are a lot of resources here. So, it’s always so good to spend my time helping others.”
Fuller said she felt that volunteering at this event both honored and upheld Dr. King’s legacy.
“There’s a lot of kids here. They get to learn about MLK’s message and meet people who’ve seen his marches and stuff firsthand,” Fuller said. “So here, they get to experience his messages that transcend generations.”
Frank Clinton, fourth from left, and the K.I.N.G. D.C. chapter members encourage young men to step up as leaders in the community. The group participated Jan. 18 at the MLK event at the Entertainment and Sports Arena Jan. 18. Photo credit: Dara Karadsheh
Frank Clinton, though not directly participating in the parade, showed up for the young men in the room. As bishop and leader of Knowledge Inspiration Nurture through God (K.I.N.G.), a local men’s discipleship group, Clinton said he believed that empowering men to step up as leaders is of the utmost importance for fostering a more prosperous community.
“It’s of essence to the world that we unite regardless of our color, but specifically why we’re here is because there’s a problem in America today with men standing up. We represent men becoming better fathers, better husbands, you know, just better for God,” Clinton said. “Let’s unite together.”
Design credits Mariaregina Mendoza
