Photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 Detroit ‘Walk to Freedom’

MLK Day commemorates the important legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., held this year on Monday, Jan. 15. Dr. King visited Detroit on June 23, 1963, for the Walk to Freedom, where 125,000 people followed the civil rights leader down Woodward Avenue to a rally at what was then known as Cobo Hall where he delivered an early rendition of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In honor of Dr. King, here’s a collection of photos from that day, as well as other images from his trips to Detroit. This year’s 21st Annual MLK Day Rally and March will explore how current and past struggles for liberation intersect, featuring U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and UAW President Shawn Fain as guest speakers.