Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commemorations Mlk topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor proclaims Jan. 19, 2026 as Denver MLK March 40th anniversary day
Summary
Mayor Mike Johnston and council proclaimed Jan. 19, 2026 the 40th anniversary of Denver's Martin Luther King Jr. march, citing the Colorado General Assembly's prior actions (HB 1201) and the longstanding role of the MLK holiday commission and community leaders.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and council members issued a proclamation Monday recognizing Jan. 19, 2026 as the 40th anniversary of the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. march and honoring the commission and leaders who sustained the annual event.
The proclamation recounted the history of the state holiday, noting work by Colorado legislators and community leaders to establish a state holiday and an advisory commission. The text cited the Colorado General Assembly’s passage of HB 1201 in 1984 as the legislative milestone that officially recognized Dr. King’s birthday as a state holiday and credited leaders including former U.S. Rep. Wellington Webb and state Representative Wilma J. Webb for advocacy that led to the commission and the parade’s growth.
Mayor Johnston read the proclamation, calling the annual march a ‘‘pride of the city’’ and noting it draws tens of thousands of residents to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy of justice and civic engagement. Councilmember Darryl Watson introduced the proclamation and participants took a quick photo before the meeting resumed.
The proclamation notes the city will mark the event’s 40th anniversary with community celebrations and encouraged residents to participate in the march and related programming.
