Events, activities to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By Meagan McGone
mmcgone@hometownnewsol.com
BREVARD -- More than 80 years ago, an influential activist and prominent civil rights leader was born.
To celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who spent most of his life peacefully fighting for racial equality, a variety of events are being planned in Brevard. Below is a list of things to do to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
South Brevard
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March/Parade will be held on Monday, Jan. 21 at 9 a.m.
Sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition, the march will start at the Martin Luther King Library, located at 955 E. University Blvd. in Melbourne, and will end at the Melbourne Auditorium.
For more information, contact Estella Edwards at (321) 544-2798 or email estellawed1@yahoo.com.
Florida Tech will celebrate the life and achievements of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in the John and Martha Hartley Room in the Denius Student Center on campus.
A portion of the evening will be dedicated to honoring those in the community who represent King's legacy with their contributions to society.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. David E. Bryant, who currently presides over the second-oldest African-American Missionary Baptist Church in Florida, the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church of Cocoa, founded in 1886.
Orator Leonard Ross will perform Dr. King's legendary "I Have a Dream" speech.
Additionally, there will be live musical entertainment, courtesy of the Florida Tech choir, performing "Lift Every Heart and Sing" and Leroy Darby performing "The Impossible Dream."
For more information, call Bino Campanini at (321) 674-8434 or e-mail bcampanini@fit.edu.
North Brevard
The Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Celebration will be held on Monday, Jan. 21, in Cocoa Village at 1 p.m.
A march will begin at Provost Park on Varr Avenue, and it will end in Riverfront Park, where vendors will participate in a community celebration to follow the march.
For more information, contact Oliver Wells at (321) 704-0433.
The Strength of a Healthy Village Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be held at the Isaac Campbell Senior Park Community Center at 701 South St. in Titusville on Monday, Jan. 21 at 10:30 a.m.
The parade will kick off on Harrison Avenue, beginning at the parking lot of the former Gooding's grocery store, and it will feature floats and participants from churches, youth groups and more.
The parade will end at the Isaac Campbell Senior Park Community Center.
Following the parade, an African-American Festival will feature a marching band, musical performances and entertainment, food and craft vendors, a kid village for children to participate in and activities for people of all ages.
For more information, call (321) 269-3645 or (321) 917-0751.