GIFFORD — Celebrations were held across the nation this week honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., considered by many to be a fearless warrior for justice. Hundreds of spectators braved the cold in Gifford as the community held its annual MLK holiday parade and program on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The theme of the event was “Power of Unity,” tracing back to one of King’s influential messages.
Dr. King stood before a Birmingham congregation in May 1963, telling the audience that “there is power in unity and there is power in numbers.” King delivered the speech at St. Luke’s Baptist Church after about 2,500 protesters were arrested because they advocated for civil rights, a feat that King encouraged his followers to champion with nonviolence.
A month prior, King was also arrested in Birmingham after he led marches in the city against an injunction banning anti-segregation protests. The revered, Atlanta-born Baptist minister would then go on to say, “keep this movement going, keep this movement rolling. In spite of the difficulties, keep climbing. If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, after he was struck by a bullet as he stood on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. His vision, however, lives on.
The Gifford parade – like others held to commemorate the federal holiday honoring King – aims to “keep the movement going,” organizers say.
The parade route trailed along 45th Street through the heart of Gifford and ended at the Victor Hart Sr. Community Enhancement Complex. A program was held afterward at the outside complex. The MLK Birthday Committee of Indian River County organized both events.
Attendees enjoyed seafood, chicken wings, crabs and barbecue, along with gospel selections, Christian rap, speeches, poems, prayers, a mime performance, step and dance teams, and even a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” song that he originally dedicated to King. Organizers said they hope the celebration in Gifford will continue to grow in the years to come.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
