State Capitol event honors MLK Day on coldest holiday since 2016
LUCAS ROBINSON
Updated
Guests applaud as the Chicago Mass Choir performs Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the state Capitol in Madison. The annual event is the oldest official MLK Day celebration in the United States.
Residents, musicians and community leaders braved subzero wind chill temperatures to gather for the 43rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the state Capitol on Monday.
Photos from Madison's 43rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony
Guests applaud as the Chicago Mass Choir performs Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the state Capitol in Madison. The annual event is the oldest official MLK Day celebration in the United States.
SAMANTHA MADAR, STATE JOURNAL
Attendees listen during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. The theme of this year's celebration was "One Day" – a reference to King's 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech.
SAMANTHA MADAR
The Chicago Mass Choir performs during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. A youth mariachi group from Milwaukee-based Latino Arts also performed during the event.
SAMANTHA MADAR
LASP Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Lagos and Maestra Dinorah Marquez perform during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. The annual event has long promoted multi-cultural messages and themes.
SAMANTHA MADAR
Reverend Dr. Marcus Allen speaks during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. "I believe the theme of 'One Day' is a powerful sentiment but it depends how it's presented," Allen said.
SAMANTHA MADAR
Attendees introduce themselves to each other during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. With a high of 1 degree, this year's holiday was the coldest in Madison since 2016, which saw a high of 3 degrees.
SAMANTHA MADAR
Governor Tony Evers speaks during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. "As we remember Dr. King's life's work, we must remain as steadfast as ever in our pursuit of justice, fairness, equity and inclusion for all people to build the future we want for our state and country," Evers said.
SAMANTHA MADAR
LASP Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Lagos perform during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capital in Madison. The ensemble was led by Dinorah Marquez.
Guests applaud as the Chicago Mass Choir performs Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony at the state Capitol in Madison. The annual event is the oldest official MLK Day celebration in the United States.