Please register here for press credentials for The National March into Marquette Park.
LEGACY MARCH IN CHICAGO BRINGS THOUSANDS TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S HISTORIC
1966 MARCH INTO CHICAGO’S MARQUETTE PARK
2,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MARCH ON THE CITY’S SOUTHWEST SIDE RETRACING THE STEPS OF DR. KING DEMONSTRATING CHICAGO STANDS FOR JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND DIGNITY FOR ALL!
FEATURING:
Emmy, Grammy & Oscar Award-Winning Artist, Actor, Author and Activist
COMMON
Speech by Arrested Development (Platinum-Selling Artist)
Grammy-nominated Recording Artist Maimouna 'Mumu Fresh' Youssef
Mayda Alexandra del Valle (Chicago Poet Laureate)
Josephine Lee's United Voices Choir
Palestinian American Musician Ronnie Malley
Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain (Executive Director of Live Free Illinois)
Dr. Rami Nashashibi (Founder & Executive Director of IMAN)
TIME: 9:00 am & MEDIA ARRIVAL: 8:45 am
Agenda:
- 9:00am to 9:30am-Guests Arrive at Staging Area
- 9:30am-11:00am-Welcoming Remarks (Speakers, Artistic Offerings, Motivational speeches)
- 11:00am to 11:45am-Legacy March from 63rd & S. Kedzie to 6700 S. Kedzie Ave (Marquette Park)
- 12:00pm-2:00pm-Program with headliners: Dr. King’s Daughter, Mayor Brandon Johnson & COMMON’s Performance along with the featured headliners and speakers mentioned above & more TBA!
DATE: Saturday, August 1st, 2026
PLACE: Staging Area is located at 63rd Street & S. Kedzie Avenue
Legacy March starts at 63rd & S. Kedzie and ends at Marquette Park, located at 6700 S. Kedzie, Chicago, Illinois 60629
"The Fierce Urgency of Now" is the theme for this year's historic commemorative march marking the 60th anniversary of the Chicago Freedom Movement, honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march into Marquette Park on Chicago's Southwest Side. Organizers say this will be a multifaith gathering with leaders, legacy marchers, families of the original marchers, activists from across the country, elected officials, clergy, artists, entertainers, community members & more! The Fierce Urgency platform priorities are: Voting Rights & Democratic Participation, ICE Detention & Family Unity and Militarization & Human Rights
Media Notes: Credentials will be required (Link Coming Soon)
*Media are required to register for the event due to security protocols and the overwhelming interest from local and national news outlets.
Please Click Here for Media Guide, Story & Segment Ideas
We are booking segments going into the week of the march!!!
Media Relations ON-SITE Arjumand Hashmi Khan 773.616.0755 & h3mmediallc@gmail.com
{Chicago-Illinois} Saturday, August 1st 2026-Thousands are expected to convene in Chicago's Southwest Side, Marquette Park to participate in the legacy march, commemorating 60 years of the Chicago Freedom Movement! From 1966 to 2026! In 1966 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took to the streets of the City of Chicago's Southwest Side neighborhood, Marquette Park where he marched with 700 civil rights protesters, a defining moment in history for Chicago’s Freedom Movement! The march in 1966 challenged what Chicago was facing at that time: housing segregation, racial injustice and systemic inequalities which divided neighborhoods across the city.
The march will also include a local and national presence as Chicago's diverse multifaith community: Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other faith traditions all will stand together alongside participants from across the nation to honor King's legacy and reaffirm a shared commitment to justice, compassion and the belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity and belonging.
Organizers say this year is a historic and legacy moment for the City of Chicago. As Chicago takes center stage in August bringing faith leaders, civil rights leaders and community organizers and anyone who believes in justice all together to walk the route of Dr. King to send a powerful message to the world: The Fierce Urgency of Now! According to organizers under this year’s theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” speaks to the moment of now, the need for the 1966 Chicago Freedom Movement to continue to fight injustices, fight for equality and human dignity!
This year’s march is hosted in collaboration with Powered by Faith and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), alongside 75+ local and national organizations. IMAN is headquartered near Marquette Park. Rooted in faith and committed to social justice, IMAN works with Chicago residents across the city's Southwest Side to provide access to fresh produce, health education including mental and medical healthcare, youth programming, organizing and advocacy, re-entry support, and community development.
Powered by Faith is a national, multifaith organization that convenes faith leaders and community partners to advance civic engagement, racial equity, and social justice. Through organizing, coalition building, and public action, the organization supports local communities in addressing issues that affect their neighborhoods and the nation.
Chicago has long served as a crossroads for social justice movements, where communities of different faiths and backgrounds have united to confront inequality and build stronger neighborhoods. Organizers say by retracing this historic route, participants will honor the sacrifices of the Chicago Freedom Movement while recommitting themselves to building a more just, inclusive and united Chicago for future generations.
For media inquiries please contact Arjumand Hashmi Khan of H3M Media Consulting, LLC on her cell phone at 773.616.0755 and via email at h3mmediallc@gmail.com.
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