The 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marade

The statue of Martin Luther King Jr. by Ed Dwight gathers snow in freezing temperatures. Evan Semón Photography

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Dr. Martin Luther King Day became an official holiday in Colorado forty years ago. The next year, the first annual MLK Marade — a combination march/parade — took off from City Park and headed to the Denver Civic Center.

The Marade was back this year, although unforgiving wind chills and temperatures well below zero forced the organizers to shorten the program.

While the crowd might have been smaller than in years past, everyone was spirited and excited to march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Photographer Evan Semón was there, and captured these photos:

click to enlarge

Members of the Marade planning committee.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

Wilma Webb led the fight to honor the civil rights leader with a Colorado holiday and came out in the cold.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

The Marade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15, 2024.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

Know Colorado Black historian Charleszine "Terry" Nelson handed the ceremonial MLK torch to Senator John Hickenlooper, the 43rd mayor of Denver (left), and the 46th mayor of Denver, Michael C. Johnston.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

The front line of the parade has become a lineup of who's who in Colorado politics.

Evan Semón Photography

X

click to enlarge

State representative Tim Hernández marches in the annual MLK Day parade.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

The annual Marade makes its way south on East High School's famed promenade.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

A frosty Colfax Avenue at the start of the MLK Marade.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

The familiar parade route passed the 110-year-old Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception .

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

Boombox blaring "Happy Birthday," by Stevie Wonder.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

Denver City Council reps Darrell Watson and Diana Romero Campbell finish up the Marade.

Evan Semón Photography

click to enlarge

The Dr. Martin Luther King statue serves as a year-round reminder of his legacy.

Evan Semón Photography