Several South Florida cities and organizations were holding events and parades Monday to honor the legacy of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The 5000 Role Models of Excellence held its 30th annual MLK Birthday Scholarship breakfast on Monday morning, with featured speakers including actor Omari Hardwick, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis.
“The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project has touched over one million families across this nation,” said U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, who launched the program in 1993.
NBC 6 anchor Jawan Strader serves as one of the program's role models.
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“It’s important that we nurture these young men so that they are future kings, future doctors, future lawyers,” Strader said. “And you can see them graduate and go on and go on to college and do some amazing things.”
Fort Lauderdale held its MLK Day celebration with a parade starting at the intersection of Northwest 5th Avenue and Sistrunk Boulevard. Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Pam Beasley-Pittman were this year’s Grand Marshals.
"The importance and the significance of being here this morning, it’s just an honor to be able to live the actual dream of Dr. King," Beasley-Pittman said. "Being a woman of color, being the first woman of color elected in this city, it’s like living the dream of Dr. King."
Local
The city of Miami began its parade at 11 a.m., traveling along Northwest 54th Street from 12th Avenue to 19th Avenue, then continuing west on 54th Street. The event featured marching bands, local law enforcement and community groups honoring King.
Miramar also held a celebration honoring the life of Dr. King with a parade that ends inside Lakeshore Park.
