Honoring Dr. King

KING SIZE PARADE – The Martin Luther King Jr. parade started at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and traveled to the Municipal Building on Osborne St. for a wreath laying ceremony before continuing to the Stigall Center.

by Kim Forbes

Humboldt celebrated Martin Luther King Day Monday morning. The day began with a march from Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church to the Municipal Building on Central Avenue. Marchers carried American flags, sang “We Shall Overcome” and other songs as they proceeded. One vehicle led the parade of children and adults. This automobile was playing recordings of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches.

Dr. Charles Clark, a Humboldtan, welcomed everyone to the Municipal Building for a wreath laying ceremony. After the welcome, he led the group in prayer.

Dr. Charles Clark welcomes the crowd on MLK Day. He invited the children to come to the front to better see and hear the program.

Mayor Marvin Sikes presented a proclamation declaring February 16, 2017 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Humboldt. Sikes said to the youth present and to the adults, “Let today be a launching pad for what you can do for yourself and your community. Don’t just follow a leader. Be a leader.

Mayor Marvin Sikes presented the proclamation declaring February 16, 2017 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Humboldt.

After the proclamation the marchers continued their journey to the Stigall Center.

The crowd of marchers sang songs like “We Shall Overcome” as they marched the streets of Humboldt. The singing continued at the Municipal Building with a song called “Sing about Martin.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15, 1929. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. on April 4, 1968. Dr. King was a leader in the nonviolent civil rights movement.