By By Stacey Hancock/The Meridian Star
Dec. 31, 2000
Organizers are encouraging participation in the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade, which will wind its way through downtown Meridian on Jan. 15.
Between 50 and 75 people marched last year, and 600-800 attended the parade and a memorial ceremony that followed.
Coordinator Linda Wilson-Jones hopes the number will double or triple this year.
The parade line-up is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Meridian Public School District's central office, located at 1019 25th Ave. The parade begins at noon, followed by a ceremony with speakers at Dumont Plaza.
Jones said she and other volunteers feel strongly about making the parade a permanent part of Meridian's calendar.
Since the focus is education, teachers, churches and gospel choirs from surrounding areas will make speeches about King and his work.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. David Dennis, president of Positive Innovations, a tutoring program designed to inspire children to enjoy math and algebra. Dennis was field secretary for the Congress of Racial Equality from 1960-64, and was a part of "Freedom Summer" in 1961.
For more information, call Linda Wilson-Jones at 482-6525.
Stacey Hancock is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at shancock@themeridianstar.com.