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More than 200 groups and organizations participate in Jacksonville’s MLK Day Parade

JACKOSNVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s MLK Day Parade continues to grow every year! This year, organizers say there were double the amount of groups who signed up to participate, and they had 10,000 shirts to distribute to everyone who attended.

The annual parade to honor civil rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is marching forward stronger than ever.

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“I thank God we take a day to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, for all that he’s done, not only for just the Black - the Afro-American, but America, period,” said neighbor Charles Long.

King would’ve been 94 years old yesterday. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis.

On Monday, the River City, in all its colors, sounds, shapes and sizes, came out to spread his message of equality and peace. They showed that his words and actions are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.

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“In this day, Jacksonville as well as our surrounding areas, we need peace and we need to stop the violence,” Long stressed.

“Even being led by our mayor and our sheriff,” Long said of seeing both Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, “You’re leading the way, it’s such a great thing that we come together again as a city and as a whole.”

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“This is a symbolic display of unity,” Curry noted. “And it’s a message for all of us to live the message that Dr. Martin Luther King lived and preached every day of his life.”

His famous words: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up,” and live up to the promise all are created equal, still resonate with the youngest of generations.

“I really like that part,” 12-year-old Brayden Thompson contemplated, “Because it’s like, how are we gonna rise up and create the true meaning of the world?”

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