The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People DeKalb will host a virtual parade at noon Jan. 18 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, according to a press release.
This is the 19th year for the MLK Parade in DeKalb County. This celebration recognizes King and the accomplishments he made. It was his accomplishments that paved the way for people of color to exercise their rights and engage in all social, educational, political, and economic relations.
King was an activist who had a dream of equality and justice for all, and this day serves as a beacon of encouragement to us today to be activists to maintain the rights that he won and to dream big.
“I am elated that the NAACP DeKalb was determined to conduct the annual parade to honor Dr. King in light of the challenges caused by this COVID-19 pandemic,” says parade committee member Al Chatman. “Our honoring him in this environment, to me, is symbolic of the hardships and sacrifices that Dr. King faced in the struggle to end discrimination and segregation.”
“Although the 2021 ceremony will be virtual instead of in person, our challenges to honor him this year are nothing compared to the challenges Dr. King and his family faced day in and day out in his fight for our civil rights,” Chatman added. “With what he went through on a constant basis in his fight for equal rights, he is worthy to be honored every year regardless of the challenges we encounter in doing so. It is important that he continues to be honored every year in some noteworthy way, so that everyone, especially our young people, will know the high esteem in which he is held and will continue to recognize and appreciate his hard-earned accomplishments.”
This year’s celebration will encompass a variety of creative events to honor King and all that he has contributed to society. This momentous occasion will be celebrated via online streaming services and will reinforce the notion of teamwork and perseverance, regardless of the obstacles remaining in the path.
Officials invite all to this free event.
Register: www.naacpdekalb.org.
Information: Vivian Moore, MLK, Jr. Parade Committee Chair, at 404-241-8006 or info@naacpdekalb.org.
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