Merced residents turn out to honor MLK’s legacy, amid calls to protect voting rights

After being canceled last year to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Merced County residents from all walks of life took to the streets Monday for the 25th annual Peace and Unity March honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Marchers gathered at the Merced County Fairgrounds at 11 a.m. and walked to the downtown Merced Theatre.

Although the size of this year’s parade was much smaller than previous events, it still took on special significance for those who were in attendance, due to the ongoing debate over voting rights happening nationally and in Washington, D.C.

Many civil rights leaders nationwide have called upon President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to support federal legislation protecting voter rights.

This year, King’s family asked that no celebration of his life occur without action on the pending voting rights legislation, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

They say the act is needed to protect states from making it more difficult for residents to vote.

Participants in Monday’s march like Tamara Cobb said protecting voter rights is part of keeping the legacy of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders alive.

“Our voting rights are being trampled upon. That is the main reason we are out here and marching, to maintain those civil rights that were fought for years and years ago,” said Cobb, the march’s chairperson.

“My primary reason for doing the march is because I want to put (equity) forward in our community. Equity in our school systems, equity in our voting rights. Those are the things that Dr. Martin Luther King has passed onto me besides his wisdom of words.”

The march also attracted longtime Merced residents like Robby Huddleston, son of the late Charlie Huddleston.

The Huddlestons are one of Merced’s best known pioneer families, having settled in the area during the mid-1930s from Muskogee, Okla.

Robby Huddleston’s father was a fixture in Merced, especially south Merced, for decades, with some even calling him the “mayor of south Merced.”

He also played a role in changing the name of J Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Way decades ago. “At that time it was really hard, a lot of businesses, they didn’t want to change the sign,” Robby explained.

“So they were going to city hall for a whole year until they got everyone to agree ‘OK, we’re going to change it.’ They had a ribbon cutting and ever since then I had been marching with my dad every year.”

Robby said his father was beloved by residents from all backgrounds, and he’s proud to keep his tradition of participating in the march alive.

While Robby said there is still work to be done, in terms of Dr. King’s dream becoming reality, he has seen positive changes in Merced and elsewhere.

“I am grateful that we can still get together, and things have turned around for blacks, whites, brown for everybody. And I appreciate that,” Robby said.

The march in Merced was one of many events nationwide to honor the civil rights trailblazer.

President Ronald Reagan signed Martin Luther King Jr. Day into law as a federal holiday in 1983. The day marks the slain civil rights leader’s birthday — and has come to represent a national day of service in recognition of King’s advocacy for equity and positive change.