Thousands showed up to the 2026 MLK parade in southeast DC. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday DC Parade was conceived in 1977 by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, founder of The Washington Informer and the United Black Fund, Ward 8 Councilmember Wilhelmina J. Rolark, and Ralph “Petey” Greene, a renowned community activist and radio personality. It was established to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The parade is a now a tradition where the community and politicians meet to celebrate the holiday signed into federal law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983, establishing the third Monday in January as a national holiday, with the first observance in 1986. This year, the parade was particularly busy as candidates running for public office in DC used the space to broadcast their message. The parade was preceded by a series of events, including a Peace Walk on the same day, and a prayer breakfast, the Saturday before.
