Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade
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By: Ashlee Thomas | January 8, 2020
Honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As one of the most visible figure in the Civil rights movement in the U.S., the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is honored across the country for his work in peaceful protest against dicrimination of African Americans and minorities. The third Monday in January is nationally recognized as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On January 20, 2020, join hundreds at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park in Liberty City, for a celebratory parade and day of festivities for the entire family.
Who is Martin Luther King, Jr.
Born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King was a passionate Reverend who joined the movement to end racial discrimination in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. He organized several marches and peaceful protests. In 1963, he helped to execute the famous march on Washington, which was memorialized in 2013 by President Barack Obama, on its 50th anniversary. Here, Dr. King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech.
A year later, on October 14, 1964, he was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to address racial inequality through non-violence. Tragically, four years later, at the age of 39, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Posthumously, King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In honor of his sacrifice and the sacrifice of many others during the civil rights movement, we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day annually, as a symbol of racial harmony, peace and advancement towards equality for all.
Celebrate King Day in Miami
On Monday, January 20, 2020, Miami joins in this federal holiday with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade & Festivities in Liberty City. This 2.5 hour parade takes place along NW 54th Street on a route from NW 10th Avenue to NW 32nd Avenue, and follows the sacred ground that Dr. King once traveled during his frequent visits to Miami. Beginning at 11 a.m. with festivities until 6 p.m., the celebration continues at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park with live music, dance and theatrical performances, a crafts marketplace, food vendors and childrens' activities.
Attendees are in for a local treat. Sticky fingers and fresh-cut sugar cane, smiling faces, eccentric fashion, high-stepping rhythms of school marching bands, dance teams, city commissioners, business owners, and the biker boyz - it doesn't get anymore local than that! The MLK Parade, now in its 43rd year, stands as one of the longest running parades in the nation.
Fifty-two years later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stands strong as an icon for peace during the volatile era of the civil rights movement. King's assassination forced the country to pause, reflect, and take real action toward freedom and equality in the U.S. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. On this day, in Miami and across the nation, we honor and strive towards his dream.