Take a ‘day on, not a day off’ on MLK Day. Parades set for Merced, Los Banos
Commemorations of the nonviolent struggle for civil rights will take place this Monday, as the Merced community gathers for the 24th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March Parade and Celebration.
The event honoring the trailblazing civil rights leader is a longtime tradition in Merced, bringing together people from all walks of life, including school marching bands, civic groups, activists, political officials and many others..
Tamara Cobb, chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, said she hopes attendees feel a sense of unity, and are reminded of the history behind the nation’s civil rights movement.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of service,” said Cobb. “We call it a day on, not a day off.”
Themed “Reclaiming Our Time,” the community is invited to line up at the Merced County Fairgrounds for the Peace March Parade at 10 a.m. The fairgrounds are located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The office of Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, will serve coffee and hot chocolate at 10 a.m.
Marchers will set off at 11 a.m. toward the Art Kamanger Theatre at 301 W Main St. Children from Hoover Middle School and Tenaya Middle School will play as a combined marching band in the parade.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. and end at 2 p.m. Honorable speakers include Pastor Robert Morris of Merced’s Valley Harvest Church and UC Merced professor Nigel Hatton. Their presentations will highlight this year’s theme.
“This is a big community event,” Cobb said. About 900 people are expected to attend, and the event grows every year, she said.
This year, three active members of the Merced community will be recognized for their service, and will be presented with the first annual Martin Luther King Jr. award. Recipients include Jerome Raspberry, Marilyn Mochel and Alicia Rodriguez.
Framed as a “day on,” residents are also encouraged to spend the holiday volunteering within their communities.
President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in 1983 declaring the third Monday in January be observed as a federal holiday in honor of Dr. King. The day is intended to pay homage to the late human rights trailblazer’s civil disobedience against racial oppression.
“That’s what I want (attendees) to get,” Cobb said. “The spirit of what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for.”
Los Banos celebrates Dr. King
Dr. King’s spirit will also be celebrated in Los Banos with a march hosted by the NAACP’s Chapter 12AA. The chapter serves the Los Banos, Dos Palos and Gustine areas.
“The whole focus is to continue to work on unity,” said the chapter’s Interim President Marlene Smith.
With a theme of “God Over Everything,” this year’s march begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20. at Los Banos City Hall, 520 J Street. Pacheco High School’s Black Student Union will be in attendance.
The march concludes at Bethel Community Church at 415 I St, where speakers will present.
Bishop Chris-Anthony Xavier Ford of M.W. Saint John Grand Lodge will be the keynote speaker. Ford is a community activist and motivational speaker for the youth, Smith said.
Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, is also expected to attend the event.
Smith emphasized the importance of community action and education, as embodied by King.
“He has been gone for so many years, but he’s broken so many barriers,” she said.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
