Full Recap: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorative Service 2025 [Video]

Thousands of people gathered in-person and online to experience the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Monday.

This was the 40th observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrating the life and legacy of the civil rights icon and his use of nonviolence to push for positive social change.

Big picture view:

Dignitaries and celebrities paid a visit to the Sweet Auburn neighborhood to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. King and to encourage the world to take the reins and continue his fight for civil rights. This year’s theme was “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.”

Ebenezer Baptist Church serves a weekly congregation of 6,000 people, according to its website. But on Monday, tens of thousands of people tuned in online.

Timeline:

The service began at 9 a.m. sharp with a traditional hymn: “Hallelujah.”

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