Loudoun County’s 28th Annual Martin Luther King March and Celebration

Written by Dulcy Hooper  | Photos by Joanne Maisano 

Families, friends, and community organizations from all over Loudoun County came together on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn in Leesburg for the annual march and celebration honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

With a theme focused on “Community: A Vision for our Future,” the keynote speaker was Dr. Jason Nichols, lecturer in the African American Studies Department at the University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Nichols has been recognized by the University of Maryland community for his tireless effort to help students develop.

The celebration included a symbolic march from the Old Loudoun Courthouse to the Douglass Community Center, formerly Douglass High School. Local school bands, individuals, families, and community groups participated in the march, one of the largest and oldest in the region. Noteworthy in Loudoun County history, Douglass High School was the last segregated high school in Loudoun County until it was closed in 1968 as a result of desegregation.

Following the march, refreshments were served at the Douglass Community Center, with musical performances, presentations, and inspirational offerings further highlighting the occasion. ML

This article first appeared in the February 2020 issue of Middleburg Life.