Hundreds celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights legacy in Merced

Under the theme of “Reclaiming Our Time,” hundreds of people gathered Monday in Merced to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The event began with a Peace March Parade from the Merced County Fairgrounds to the Art Kamangar Theatre. The march was followed by a celebration at the theatre.

Honorable speakers for the celebration included Pastor Robert Morris of Merced’s Valley Harvest Church and UC Merced professor Nigel Hatton.

Three active members of the Merced community were also recognized at the event for their record of service, and were presented with the first annual Martin Luther King Jr. award. Recipients included Jerome Raspberry, Marilyn Mochel and Alicia Rodriguez.