OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Thousands gathered to participate, braving the cooler temperatures, in an event that celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a march that was a little more than one mile from the Ocala’s Historic Downtown Square to Webb Field at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex.
“It’s a great day in the neighborhood, Dr. King, what he stood for, we’re out here celebrating his life and legacy, but most of all we’re celebrating liberty, peace, equality and trying to make the best of it, loving our neighbor, loving ourselves, making this a beautiful community and bringing people together,” said Ocala City Council President Ire Bethea, Sr.
It was an opportunity for the community to recommit their values, those that Dr. King lived and died for–justice, equality and love for one another. Dr. King reminded us that the time is always right, to do what is right, and Monday morning’s march was a reflection of that truth, said Mayor Ben Marciano, City of Ocala. The march represented the community’s shared responsibility to stand against injustice, to speak up for those whose voice is often not heard and help build a community where opportunity, dignity and hope are available for everyone.
“It’s a great day, it’s funny how it’s always the coldest day of the year,” said Marciano. “It’s such an important thing to bring our community together and have that unity, for a man that did so much for our country to bring people together. I look forward to it. I love seeing everybody come out for it. It’s a great start for the day.”
As Dr. King said, “As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.” The spirit of his legacy resonated throughout the march route, with a feeling that was palpable.
Michelle Johnson performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” on the stage at Webb Field at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Complex, after the march.
“This is another great community event that brings everybody together and helps us really remember what’s important,” said Chief Mike Balken, Ocala Police Department. “I’m looking around. We’ve got city leadership here, the mayor’s here, the city manager is here, council members, school board members, police department the fire department. Remembering Dr. King, celebrating his life and legacy and what it’s done not only for the country, but right here in Ocala. It’s a great event for us to come out and help support and sponsor, but our job out here today is to keep everybody safe and we’re certainly happy to participate as well.”
It was an opportunity to participate in a great celebration, and in the remembrance of the life and legacy of a great leader of this nation in terms of justice, and the social justice movement across the nation, said Dr. Jerone Gamble, Marion County NAACP president. Dr. King led this movement from 1955 to 1968, and we are indebted to him, for all of the achievements and the accomplishments that were made for the equality and justice among people of color, he said.
“We’re grateful today, that we also have in our very own community folks who have contributed and participated in that movement,” said Dr. Gamble. “We never want to forget in Marion County, Dr. Frank George Pinkston, who led this movement for a number of years. We also had people like (Dr.) Dorsey Miller and Bob Rice. We also want to remember some folks that we still have with us today. Whitfield Jenkins and Sister Loretta Jenkins, who gave so much for equality and justice in this community. There were so many others who worked behind the scenes. L. C. Stevenson and Ernest Woods and brothers who were legendary in their support of the work of the NAACP and the fight for freedom in our community. While we celebrate, let us not forget the struggle is not over. The struggle still continues.”
And as Dr. King said in his “I Have a Dream” speech, “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'” Those tenets still hold the same power and hope, inspiring future generations.
“We want to celebrate unity and to keep the dream alive,” said Sadie Ettson, who attends Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church. “Together, everybody is fighting the same fight, where we’re promoting equality, but also keeping that legacy alive, allowing our youth to see the history.”