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The long-running Let Freedom Ring concert honoring Martin Luther King Jr. is leaving its familiar home at the John F. Kennedy Center this year. Organizers say the show will take place at the historic Howard Theatre, a move driven by budget decisions and shifts in leadership at the Kennedy Center. The change has stirred reactions from artists and producers who have been part of the DC tradition for decades.
What changed: a high-profile venue swap
Let Freedom Ring has been a signature MLK Day event at the Kennedy Center for more than 20 years. This year, the show — headlined by actor and rapper Common — will be staged at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.
- Georgetown University, which produces the event, announced the relocation.
- The choir tradition continues, with singers from local churches and Georgetown participating.
- Organizers say moving to the Howard Theatre is a cost-saving measure.
Voices reacting to the move
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, who served as artistic director for social impact at the Kennedy Center until March 2025, said staying at the Kennedy Center under its current leadership would feel inconsistent with the event’s values. He criticized recent administrative choices at the center and framed the relocation as a principled step.
Longtime music producer Nolan Williams Jr., who has overseen Let Freedom Ring since 2003, also supports the transition. He emphasized honoring the concert’s history while embracing new chapters. “You celebrate what was and then move forward,” he said.
New music and the message for 2025
For this year’s performance, Williams composed a piece titled “Just Like Selma.” The work draws on King’s famous line about the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice…