The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk, commemorating the life and legacy of the civil rights leader, returns Monday. The event marks the 42nd annual peace walk and parade. Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, who founded the Washington Informer and co-founded United Black Fund, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, the former Ward 8 Councilmember, and the Ralph “Petey” Greene, a community activist and radio personality, conceived of the event in 1977, nearly a decade after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

The peace walk lives on through various community-based organizations that are a part of the Coalition for Peace, and is held on the federal MLK holiday. “Peace Walkers” annually join in the two-mile walk along Martin Luther King Jr Avenue Southeast.

This year the holiday lands on Jan 16, a day after King’s birthday. This year’s theme is “Recapture The Dream Lift Every Voice: ‘Till Victory is Won!” Here’s what else you need to know:

Where is the parade located and what time does it start?

The parade sets off at 11 a.m. from the St. Elizabeths campus inside the RISE Center. It’ll travel north on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE and end at Anacostia Drive along the river. The parade is expected to go until 2 p.m.

The parade viewing stage will be set up at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and W St SE; spectators are allowed to bring portable chairs. Masks are required.

How can residents participate? 

The peace walk will be at the front of the parade, and anyone is welcome to join in. People are encouraged to meet at 10 a.m. at the corner of Malcolm X Avenue and Martin Luther King Avenue SE in Congress Heights. That’s Shepherd Park, as it’s known to the National Park Service, but locals sometimes refer to it as Malcolm X Park. Participants will walk along MLK Ave., heading north toward the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus to join up with the parade.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in volunteering in the event should visit the website mlkholidaydc.org.

Which streets will be closed? 

These streets will be closed, according to ABC 7:

• Sycamore Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• Dogwood Street from Oak Street
• Milwaukee Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• Pomeroy Road and MLK Avenue, SE
• Birney Place and MLK Avenue, SE
• Sumner Road and Stanton Road at MLK Avenue, SE
• Howard Road and MLK Avenue, SE
• Talbert Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• Morris Road and MLK Avenue, SE
• Chicago Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• Maple View Place and MLK Avenue, SE
• Pleasant Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• W Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• V Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• U Street and MLK Avenue, SE
• Good Hope Road and MLK Avenue, SE
• Saint Elizabeth’s Drive and MLK Avenue, SE

Any other events this weekend?  

A health and wellness fair will be stationed at 2006 Martin Luther King Ave. SE near the route from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Health services vendors will be set up there, offering blood pressure and diabetes screening, nutritional information, and other services. Masks and social distancing will be required. Registration is required for attendees 18 and up here.

There are other events around town including Busboys and Poets’ “MLK Dare to Dream Slam!”, Folger Theatre’s “Not Just Another Day Off,” and The Kennedy Center’s “Let Freedom Ring” program.