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Marchers fill downtown Seattle celebrating Dr. King's legacy

SEATTLE — Marchers filled downtown Seattle’s Westlake Park as they honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

People started marching from Garfield High School in the Central District. Speakers shared what justice means for them, including fighting for immigrant rights, supporting black women and working toward an America where everyone is treated equally.

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“There are a lot of social justice issues that we still are facing today, that we were facing way back in the day,” Maurice Murphy said as he marched with his 7-year-old son Yusef and 10-year-old son Muhammed.

“I feel nervous because this is my first time being in a march,” Yusef confessed.

“[I’m] showing my daughter, who is also biracial—she’s half-Filipino and black—that everybody can coexist together,” Melba Nogodola said, soaking up the atmosphere with 3-year-old daughter Jasmine.

Before the march, people rallied inside the high school.

“We are here to reclaim Dr. King’s dream and vision,” Dr. Rev. Kelle Brown proclaimed as she also recognized the work of his wife, Coretta Scott King.

She spoke against the Trump administration’s push for a southern border wall and urged people to fight injustice of all kinds in their own communities.

“We haven’t honored the elders,” she said. “We do not honor the disabled or differently abled.”

Former Washington state representative Jesse Wineberry thanked the crowd for supporting Initiative 1000. It is designed, Wineberry told the crowd, “to bring affirmative action back to Washington state.  To bring diversity back to Washington state. To bring equity back to Washington state. To bring inclusion back to Washington state.”

Action was the word of the day.

“I think that our action matters,” Mary Dejong said as she walked with two of her children, Anna and Cannon. “We can talk about this at home, but when you put your feet to it, it's a totally different thing.”

Parent Maurice Murphy hoped his children learned a lesson from the day’s experience.

“You actually have to fight for your rights,” he said. “You have to fight for the rights of others. Those who are oppressed. Those who are like you and who are not.”

Dr. King’s only visit to Seattle was in November of 1961. He spoke at Garfield High School during that trip.

King County, which was originally named for Alabama slaveowner and brief Vice President of the United States William Rufus DeVane King, was renamed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 2005.