Houston MLK Day brings out thousands

The 32nd annual original Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, sponsored by the Black Heritage Society, drew over 25,000 people to downtown Houston on Jan. 18. High school marching bands, Black cowboys on horses and beauty queens paraded with activist contingents from the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, the Palestinian and Haitian communities, the Harris County Green Party, National Black United Front, Pacifica Radio, immigrant rights activists and the Houston Bolivarian Society.

With bright blue skies and warm weather, the parade led off with Grand Marshall Derek King, the nephew of Dr. King, leading more than 150 parades entries. Since the earthquake in Haiti, the focus of the parade was changed to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti. Donations of non-perishables and money were collected for Haiti.

The Palestinian banner read “Sisters and Brothers of Haiti — the Palestinian People Feel Your Pain” and it was received with cheers from the crowded sidewalks.

The Death Penalty Abolition Movement parade entry spoke with the crowd using a sound system, telling them to join in the struggle to abolish the racist and anti-poor death penalty. On-lookers yelled and cheered and put their fists in the air.