Louisville Hosts MLK Day Parade, Ceremony

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The folks in Louisville hosted a parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Saturday.

“I think it’s important for us to come out so that not only do we recognize where we’re going in the future but for us to see where we’ve come from,” says Barbara McHenry, who attended the parade.

The Winston County Branch of the NAACP organized the event. The parade proceeded through downtown, ending at the Still Valley Missionary Baptist Church where a ceremony was held. Jackson State University professor, C. Leigh McInnis, was the guest speaker.

“The message is we need to remember the core values from the past. The message of unity, the message of leadership, the message of selflessness, the message of courage and the message of righteousness. We need to remember that the strong root that kept our tree firmly planted is what will carry us into the future,” says McInnis.

The program included a performance by the Melody Makers as well as a rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. The newly-formed MSU chapter of the NAACP was also there to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King.

“I think it ties right in with our theme this year with the NAACP theme. It’s “we Shall Not Be Moved” and through his legacy along with other fore fathers, I think we will not be moved because of that,” says Sanjaris Johnson, President of the MSU NAACP chapter.

The MLK holiday will be officially celebrated on Monday, January 20th. If you’d like more information on the Winston County NAACP, call (662) 773-4002.