Montgomery, Prattville celebrate MLK Day in the streets and in church

Montgomery's first Black mayor, Steven Reed, joined a celebration Monday of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy at the church he once led here, before parades took to the streets he once marched to demand equal rights.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church featured remarks from Reed, Rev. Courtney Meadows, Rev. Cromwell Handy, Montgomery County Commissioner Isaiah Sankey and others. The service also showcased performances by local artists Zamir McNeal, Ke'Yana Robinson and Derek Handy.

Meanwhile, a morning parade wound its way through Prattville, where children and families lined the streets in frigid temperatures to smile and cheer.

Montgomery's afternoon parade filled Dexter Avenue and moved past King's former church and along the route that he took to the state Capitol during the Selma-to-Montgomery March. More than 40 floats were scheduled to participate and state Sen. Kirk Hatcher led a celebration on the Capitol steps.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery, Prattville celebrate MLK Day in the streets and in church