by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
Clermont’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. festivities and parade took place on Monday, January 19th. The annual community event is designed to foster equality, unity, reflection, and peace. The celebration began with a homestyle parade beginning at McKinney Park on Bloxam Avenue in the Lincoln Park Community of Clermont.
The parade, organized by the Lincoln Park Rams Motorcycle Club in partnership with the Christian Men in Action and partnered with the City of Clermont, was complete with floats and vehicles that displayed King’s legacy and his unwavering pursuit of equality. The season-winning South Lake High School Eagles football team took their place in the parade to represent support for community involvement and working together as a team to fulfill a mission. Placards and posters throughout the parade revealed several of King’s infamous quotes that he was often heard reciting during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. One such poster highlighted the quote, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Under crystal clear beautiful skies and a chill in the air, the parade traveled from McKinney Park to Waterfront Park on 3rd Street with the Clermont Police Department leading the way. At Waterfront Park, fun for all ages awaited the community with food vendors, community non-profit displays, information booths, musical entertainment and children’s games.
Clermont Mayor Tim Murry opened the festivities at Waterfront Park with a welcome speech that included a quote from King that Murry asked the audience to remember. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”- Martin Luther King, Jr.
A favorite quote among many of the attendees was Dr. King’s famous quote of “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” The quote, emphasizing perseverance and the importance of progress, regardless of the pace, was delivered in a speech at Spelman College in April of 1960.
On the very grounds where white community members only were once allowed to enjoy the refreshing waters of Lake Minneola, people of all skin colors, cultures, and backgrounds joined together to enjoy a day of peace, great food, and family fun, along with some reflection of the past and plenty of excitement for the future.
Please visit www.ClermontFL.gov/ARC for a full list of upcoming community events.
