To the sound of a marching band playing “We Shall Overcome,” hundreds of Merced residents turned out Monday in celebration of the legacy of the trailblazing civil rights legend, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at the annual march and celebration.
The theme of this year’s event was “Living the Dream,” inspired by the historic “I Have A Dream” speech Dr. King presented as part of the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in 1963.
Marchers proceeded from the Amtrak Station to the Merced Theatre in downtown. A ceremony took place afterward inside the theatre, where there were performances by youth and an awards presentation.
In addition to marching bands, a variety of civic groups participated in the parade, alongside charros on horseback and a procession of vehicles including lowrider cars.