Honoring, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Celebrate the day, honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these local events

Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. would go on to become the chief spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement and nonviolent activism in the United States.

The legacy that Dr. King left behind cannot be summed up in a brief introduction - nor does it need to be.

On Monday, January 16, Americans around the nation will celebrate Dr. King’s life, his dream of a world without racial discrimination, and his accomplishments at making that dream a reality.

In our area, there are several ways that you can celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year.

Martin Luther King Jr Celebration in Havana

The Havana Community Development Center over in Gadsden County will be hosting a parade, festival, and speakers in honor of the day.

The parade will roll through downtown Havana along Highway 27 (Monroe Street, in Tallahassee) starting at 10 a.m.

Afterwards, the festival will kick off at the development center, where guest speaker Daphne Jones-Stephens will share her thoughts.

There will be vendors.

Freedom Walk in Quincy

The National Hook-Up of Black Women will be hosting a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day breakfast and freedom walk in Quincy.

Starting at 7:45 a.m., participants can enjoy a community breakfast gathering at the Joe Ferolito Recreation Center in Quincy before engaging in a commemorative freedom walk in honor of the day.

The breakfast’s keynote speaker will be Isaiah Telusca.

MLK Day Parade & Festival

The City of Tallahassee will be hosting its annual MLK Day Celebration, which includes a festival, parade, and day of dialogue.

This day-long celebration will start at 11:30 a.m. on North Monroe Street, where the parade will travel on its way to Cascades Park.

The parade is expected to last until 2 p.m.

Afterwards, from 2-6 p.m., the festival will be in full swing at Cascades Park.

There will be vendors (food, arts, and crafts), and live entertainment.

MLK Day Ride at St. Marks

The Tallahassee Mountain Bike Association will be hosting its annual MLK Day Ride at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

The route will traverse the levees of the refuge, starting and the visitor center and passing by Pinhook Bridge and the St. Mark’s Lighthouse.

Those who join in on the ride can expect to see the beautiful wildlife and fauna of the refuge, such as alligators, bald eagles, woodstorks, osprey, and the St. Mark’s solitary flamingo.

The ride will be fairly relaxed in its pace.

The ride rolls out at 10 a.m. sharp, so don’t be late!

Riders can expect to be out for roughly five hours.

See the route and more HERE .

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day doesn’t have to be with events, parades, or walks, though.

You can celebrate the day and honor Dr. King’s legacy by learning about his life and causes - research the struggles of others and how the Civil Rights Movement shaped progress for all people.

Talk to the elders in your community. Learn from them on what the Civil Rights Movement was like, what their experiences were, and what life was like before the movement.

Do good for others. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that is marked as a Day of Service - so what better way to celebrate than to roll up your sleeves and help others? Volunteer at a food pantry, sign up to pick up trash at a local park, whatever cause it is in your community that needs a hand, pitch in.

Visit Civil Rights locations. The Civil Rights Movement touched every city - over in Leon County, you can explore the history of Civil Rights with the Tallahassee-Leon County Civil Rights Heritage Walk on East Jefferson Street. The walk includes the names of local civil rights leaders and activists, as well as the story of the city’s bus boycotts and lunch counter sit-ins.

Whatever you decide to do, remember the historical and cultural significance of the day and what it means to live in a post-Civil Rights Movement society.

Ashley Hunter - editor@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Honoring, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Celebrate the day, honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these local events

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From The Editor’s Desk – A matter of resolve

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