Published Jan. 13, 2023

Every Fort Worth ISD facility is closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

Classes and District business will resume Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is a national observance held annually on the third Monday in January. It honors the birth date of Dr. King, a preacher, author, civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was assassinated Apr. 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. This year marks 40 years since U.S. legislation was passed to recognize Dr. King's birth date (Jan. 15) as a federal holiday.

Visit thekingcenter.org to learn more about Dr. King's life and legacy.

Since 1994, the U.S. Congress has recognized the holiday as a national day of service in which Americans are encouraged to participate in community service projects.

Rather than Monday simply being a day off, the Fort Worth ISD encourages its students and staff to join the nation in spending the day in service to the community.

Several community events are also slated this weekend to honor Dr. King and cowboys of color:

• The Greater Fort Worth MLK Jr. Holiday Committee is celebrating and commemorating Dr. King's legacy with its 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and Rally 2023. The parade route starts at 11 a.m. from the Fort Worth Convention Center and will conclude with a rally at Sundance Square and Plaza in downtown Fort Worth. Bands from  Carter-Riverside, Dunbar, Eastern Hills, Trimble tech and O.D. Wyatt  high schools are participating in the event. Click here for additional details.
• The MLK Neighborhood Committee is hosting its fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and March on Saturday, Jan. 14. The route begins at 11 a.m. from the 2900 block of Renaissance Square in Fort Worth and will travel to Wilbarger Park. Dunbar High School is among the performers marching in the event.More information is available here.
• The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will host its annual Cowboys of Color Rodeo at 2 p.m. at Dickies Arena. More than 200 Black, Hispanic and Native American cowboys and cowgirls are expected to participate in the rodeo events. William James Middle School's own orchestra and mariachi teacher Armond Wimberly is expected to be among the musical performers at Monday's rodeo. Click here for additional rodeo details.