Did you know that there are more than 1,000 streets worldwide named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

More than 950 streets in the U.S. are named after the civil rights leader, including one here in Seattle.

And outside of the US, there are:

• Avenida Pastor Martin Luther King Jr., in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Martin-Luther-King-Straße in Bonn, Germany.
• Rua Martin Luther King in Luanda, Angola.
• Đường Luther King in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
• Martin Luther King Street in Jerusalem, Israel.

According to History Link, the city of Seattle named its streets after Dr. King in January of 1984, two years after the measure received unanimous approval from the city council, but subsequently encountered opposition from 36 merchants with establishments along the road.

Now, more than two decades later, Martin Luther King Jr. Way is about to be extended from Seattle through Renton and into Kent. Implementation is likely to occur this month, as we honor and celebrate the slain civil rights leader on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which this year falls on January 19.

The measure to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Way was approved in December by the State Transportation Commission, led by lawmakers, including Claudia Kauffman, our Washington State Senator and co-founder of the United Way, who supported the Seattle-based nonprofit Native Action Network.

“The process is going to begin now. I don’t have an exact date of when it will be implemented, but they’re on a fast track to get that done,” said Kauffman, who spoke about the extension of Martin Luther King Jr. Way during a recent episode of the Hourglass United Way of King County podcast. She added that though no street, home, or business addresses will be renamed, an additional street sign with Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be added along State Route 900 in Renton and State Route 515 in Kent.

It is a prodigious tribute to a man who has become synonymous with the fight for justice and freedom for all people, particularly the powerless, the oppressed, and the disadvantaged.

“It’s important to recognize Martin Luther King and what he has done and the contributions he made,” Kauffman said. “His work is powerful, and his name is a legacy we need to continue to have in front of all of our constituents and all of our citizens.”

And it’s also a testament to the work of Kauffman, who is currently serving her second term as state senator from the 47th district. A resident of Kent for more than 20 years, Kauffman is known as an advocate for legislation and policy that protect children, address equity, and increase services for people with disabilities.

Kauffman said that public testimony was offered during the process to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Way into Renton and Kent. She said that the reception has been positive.

“People will be happy to see this, knowing the person we’re recognizing and the work he’s done,” said Kauffman. “Southeast Kent is a very diverse community. Having that recognition will be important. I have not had any opposition to this. I have no concerns about this. It has all been celebratory; I’ve received several calls, emails, and texts from folks about how excited they are that this was able to move through.”

Kauffman co-founded Native Action Network in 2001. The organization was inspired by the work of the American Indian Women’s Service League during the Indian Relocation Act era of the 1950s.

Through programming designed to empower Indigenous women of all ages, the Native Action Network hosts intergenerational leadership forums, youth academies, nonprofit capacity-building workshops, and community development and civic participation activities.

In 2014, United Way of King County led a funding effort to help assess assets and opportunities for Indigenous communities in the Seattle area. The result was the Native Action Network 2014 report, A Vision for the Urban Indian Community. The report focused on ways Seattle and King County can honor Indigenous communities through education and support. The report was updated in 2024.

Native Action Network is also a member of United Way’s Indigenous Communities Fund. Since the fund was launched in 2020, we’ve granted about $5 million to local groups to address many needs in King County’s Indigenous Communities. To learn more about the Indigenous Communities Fund, click here.