Community members organize east Fort Worth Martin Luther King Jr. parade Saturday morning
While organizers of the City of Fort Worth’s Martin Luther King Jr. Parade canceled the Monday celebration because of growing concerns about COVID-19, the East Side MLK Parade Committee of Fort Worth will honor the Civil Rights activist on his birthday Saturday morning.
A parade is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, starting at 4300 Ramey Ave. and traveling through the 6700 block of Wilbarger Street near Village Creek Park.
“This parade is different from the one hosted by the City of Fort Worth because it is within the community and heart of Fort Worth,” Cliff Sparks, a community organizer, said. ”The purpose of organizing our own parade is because we wanted to bridge a gap. It only makes sense to involve the community in community events, especially for the areas that are overlooked and under served.”
Over 70 different participants are expected to be a part of the parade, including SS22 Slingshot Club, DFW Kings and Queens Corvette Club, Faith Family Academy JROTC, the Black Diamonds Majorettes, Miss Tarrant County, Dunbar High School Band and state representatives.
“We want to let our people know that they are not forgotten and that we will do what it takes to see them succeed. We definitely want to provide opportunities and resources,” Sparks said. “The event is a community event and the community is very excited. The community is happy that after more than 16 years that the parade is coming back to where they feel it should be.”
The parade is the community’s second annual event. The parade, which began in 2020, was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers are asking attendees to follow CDC guidelines and to wear a mask and social distance while outdoors.
