Seattle mlk jr organizing coalition
Marching for justice since 1983.
Marching for justice since 1983.
The Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition is an all-volunteer organization composed of grassroots, labor, business, people of color, and progressive community organizations and volunteers from throughout the Puget Sound region. Annually, these groups come together and organize our community's largest tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - the only geographic jurisdiction named in Dr. King's honor.
Why the new name? In 2018 a small fraction of the organization decided to abandon its roots of open and democratic process and became a non-profit. Leading to the new organization which we have become today. If you would like to read more about our re-branding please read our community letter here.
Membership in the coalition is open. Individuals become voting members at their second meeting of the year (see our Principles of Unity). Our democratically elected leadership can be found here. The Coalition has many longtime members who have been planning and participating in the march for over 30 years. A few longtime members are Lacy Steele, Eddie Rye Jr., Larry Gossett, and Bob Barnes. We are proud to have a broad-based coalition of members, including many labor unions, that support the annual march and rally.
Every year is a new theme. The first MLK march and rally planning took place in 1983. The Coalition identifies a facet of Dr. King's work or a local issue facing citizens in King County. We then organize our activities to draw attention to the issue. Each year, thousands of local citizens participate in one of the biggest and most racially diverse rallies and marches held in Seattle. Here are some of the themes from past years:
The theme usually speaks to the need for justice in all facets of our society: locally, nationally, and globally. Through workshops, a rally, and a march organized around this theme, we will keep the spotlight on our responsibility to correct the injustices in our world, from our criminal justice system to our public schools, to senseless military misadventures that threaten human rights and rob our communities of funds. This year's program will inform and empower those who attend.
