DENVER — Every third Monday in January, Denver celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a march and parade, or Marade, through the streets of the city.
The Marade celebrated its 38th anniversary this year and kicked off at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the MLK statue located in City Park.
Coined by Commission Chairperson Representative Wilma Webb, the word 'Marade' is a combination of a march and a parade. It's meant to celebrate the victories achieved in combating injustices that had occurred, and march non-violently to always confront injustices in the future wherever they may be.
In April 1985, Governor Dick Lamm signed legislation into law making the birth date of Dr. King a Colorado holiday.
At its inaugural event in January 1986, the Marade drew an estimated 15,000 people – with the exception of Atlanta, Dr. King's birthplace – Denver's Marade is the largest celebration in the country. Since then, an average 60,000 people attend the event every year.
This year's Marade keynote speaker was Clint Bryant, a respected leader in intercollegiate athletics who served 34 years as head of Augusta University Athletics.
Find a list of the scheduled events around the city to celebrate Dr. King.
>Watch a replay of the Marade in the video player below
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