More than thousand people on Monday gathered at the Ebenezer Baptist Church to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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“Isn’t this a great day?” It capped more than a week of events meant to celebrate the slain civil-rights icon’s legacy under the theme: “Remember!”
“We want to tell the kids how privileged they are to live in a day and age where schools aren’t segregated”, Chris Lowry, attendee, said. Rallies against police brutality in Minnesota and California briefly shut down traffic on two bridges. In remembrance of Doctor King, he and leaders of the Lighthouse are calling for organizations across the city to open their doors, hearts, and time to help the youth. Some in attendance say the celebration wasn’t so much about the music, but the man.
But even in the winter chill, everyone I spoke to said nothing could stop them from being out here.
In addition to the service, hundreds of people are also expected to show up at the tomb of Dr. King and his wife Coretta.
“What we want to do is recognize the sacrifice, the courage and the hard work that he did to make that dream come true”, Richmond said. “Celebrate! Act! King’s Legacy of Freedom for Our World”. “So, we can really step up the game, because we still have a long ways to go”.
Martha Marcelli came from Citrus County and said she’s happy to see so many young people enjoying the parade.
“That’s the legacy he left us; so, we’re doing the best we can to keep it going”.
And this year’s event will also include appearances by all three main Democratic presidential candidates – Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.
“Back in the day, there was a railroad where one side was whites and one side was blacks”.
“What would he say about a nation where 29 million people don’t have health insurance?” he said.
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Other speakers cited issues such as police shootings that spurred the Black Lives Matter protests in cities around the United States and accusations of voter suppression targeting minority voters.
