Marching down River Road, a strong crowd of community members celebrated the life, accomplishments and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – just as they have, in fact, now for 40 years.
It was indeed the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March in St. Charles Parish. The event is coordinated annually by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Organization of St. Charles Parish, which sets out to ensure the legendary activist’s life, accomplishments and iconic dream of equality is never forgotten and is passed down from generation to generation.
“Dr. King would be 97 years old … he’s been gone for quite some time now, and we’re still marching to keep his legacy intact,” said Dwayne LaGrange of the MLK Commemorative Organization. “Here we are now, 40 years later, still marching in unity. I saw the crowd today and I was very thankful … a really fantastic scene, so many people chanting and singing the same songs we’ve sung over the years. The turnout was magnificent.”
LaGrange has been participating in the event since the 1980s.
“My parents and grandparents, as well as people in my community always spoke of Dr. King, we always watched clips of him marching and making speeches, and it always resonated with me,” he said. “They made a point to make sure we understand our history, where we came from and how far we’ve come. We have to press on and make sure the younger generation understands that it wasn’t always pretty and wasn’t always easy.”
As is tradition, each year participants begin at the Westbank Bridge Park in Luling, march down River Road and arrive at Eual J. Landry Middle School, where a commemorative ceremony closes the proceedings.
Once they arrived at Landry, attorney Eric Carter served as guest speaker about the immense impact King had on the world. Local students representing schools throughout the parish read essays aloud that they’d written about the importance of keeping King’s legacy alive and to be good stewards of community and family.
“They were amazing,” said LaGrange. “These kids put their heart and soul into it.”
The march is part of ensuring King’s hard work and sacrifices in the name of progress are never forgotten, and that his inspiration lives on for generations to come.
King was and remains an icon, known for advancing civil rights while advocating non-violence. He participated and led marches in a push for African-American voting rights, desegregation and labor rights, inspiring the marches in his honor today. The Nobel Peace Prize winner called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the summer of 1963. He was assassinated in 1968, but his message has stood the test of time.
The 40-year anniversary is a milestone for the organization that LaGrange said he’s proud to take part in.
“It’s a milestone-plus,” he said. “I was a high school senior when this organization was fighting for the rights to be respected and accepted. And just for equality. I’m proud of this. Like I said, 40 years ago I was in high school and we talked about Dr. King in history class, but I had no idea that there were people right here in St. Charles Parish who were working to put something like this in place – to help someone like me get over the top, to make it.”
LaGrange said that above all, the annual event represents a day for unity – exactly what Dr. Martin Luther King stood for.
“All of us working together, we’re much more effective,” said LaGrange. “This march is not just for people of color. This is for everyone. We want everyone to come out in fellowship together. Because Dr. King put himself out there and fought to make the world a better place for everyone.”
