03/29/2024
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By: Charlotte Smith

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Photos by: Kenneth Armstrong

January holds the birthday of Baptist Minister and social activist, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who lead the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s. Bladen County had several events this past weekend to celebrate the birth of the well-known leader. Perhaps the biggest of the events was the 29th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.

According to Mr. Arthur Bullock, one of the parade organizers, this year’s theme was: “Stand Against Injustice”.  The parade is to honor the dream Rev. King spoke about while helping to end segregation and assisted in creating the Civil Rights Acts.

In Rev. King’s speeches in 1963 he said, ”I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

The 29th annual parade held on Monday, January 16th, 2017 had 108 entries, many classic cars and over 400 motorcycles according to officials. The official Grand Marshall for the local parade was locally born and raised in East Arcadia, Ms. Shonteia Keaton.

The crowd swelled on Broad and Poplar Streets in Elizabethtown with hundreds of citizens smiling and waving in unity. 

If you would like to learn more about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., you may visit, bio.com.

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