Video: Tupelo Motorcade Begins MLK Day Celebrations

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A motorcade of area residents kicked off MLK Day celebrations in Tupelo..

The motorcade began at the VF Factory Outlet store on Eason Boulevard, then participants turned onto Highway 45, led by a police escort.

It all ended up at St Paul United Methodist Church, where the annual MLK Birthday Celebration was held.

Original plans called for a march, instead of a motorcade, when MLK Day became a holiday in 1986.

“You know Dr. King believed in marching, he believed in marching, this is what we were going to do, but since the cold weather, and rainy weather would stop people, we thought, well the motorcade, you can ride in your car , and it’s not cold, so it’s a significant way of letting people know that , out of respect for his day, let’s do something, and that was the motorcade.”

The motorcade is organized by the Modern Beautician’s Club.