Community celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and rally drew thousands to the streets in celebration and reflection on Monday (Jan 18), 2016.

We asked marchers: Is Dr. King’s dream close to reality?

“I thank the Lord every day this man died for us, Martin Luther King”, Danette Greene said.

“…By the time you finish skating…by the time you get warmed up, you won’t even feel the cold”, said Matcie Foster, also a member of the “Freedom Skaters”.

For the 32nd year in a row, the breakfast held by Southern New Hampshire Outreach for Black Unity celebrated King’s life and legacy.

She adds one thing she will always remember was how good he smelled, always of Old Spice. “To be honest, I think he would be disgusted”, he said.

“He knew that if you tell me where a family lives, I’ll tell what jobs are available to them, where their children go to school, the quality of the air they breathe, I’ll tell you the odds they face”, he added.

“Given what’s happened in the communities, the senseless violence that we’ve seen, it’s important that we come together”.

A group of performers from Milwaukee’s Bronzeville Arts Ensemble combined excerpts from some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches with song and dance.

“Martin Luther King meant a lot to us as black people and actually to the world”, parade watcher, Salim Uqdah, said.

King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice King, gave the call to commemoration, saying her father provided a blueprint for generations to continue his work, and that people must make up lost ground. However, many parents used the day as a way to talk to their children about the legacy of Dr. King.

Many marchers have been participating in the event for many years.

“We need to just unite on a common goal and just keep working together to get equal rights, equal pay for women”, said Carolina Fonseca.