31st Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade

Biloxi’s 31st annual Martin Luther King Parade kicked off on Howard Avenue. The city celebrated the Civil Rights leaders birthday and triumph at City Hall.
Overcoming a fight of their own as the City of Biloxi officially changed the name from Great American’s Day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a celebration rolled through the streets of downtown Biloxi. Cynthia Lee with the NAACP said, “Martin Luther King is celebrated by all Americans. He fought for everybody. So a special day was set aside just for Martin Luther King!”
And a very special day it was at Biloxi’s annual Martin Luther King Parade especially for residents to hear that the city replaced a 30-year-old ordinance that called MLK Day “Great American’s Day.” This came after the City of Biloxi’s infamous social media post escalated into a national subject of racial controversy. Biloxi resident Willie Smith said, “I’m happy to say that I live in a community where they are progressive enough to understand that they should do the right thing.”
Smith just moved to Biloxi. This was his first time at the city’s annual parade. People lined the streets to catch beads and candy as the parade looped though MLK Avenue and ended in Bush Park. “You see blacks, whites, everybody! That’s exactly what Dr. King wanted like unity. Everyone come out,” said Smith.
City officials say at one point the parade attracted more than 5,000 people. It’s been around for more than 30 years. The Civil Rights leader took part in legendary marches for equality, Biloxi’s parade honored the man who had a dream of ending racism. “I’m just so happy because we now have this day in Biloxi, Mississippi,” said Lee.