Thousands pack Houston streets for MLK parades

HOUSTON – Let the celebration begin.

"Happy MLK day, everybody. Keep the dream alive," shouted Rep. Al Green.

The Black Heritage Society has been keeping the dream alive for 39 years at the original Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Houston.

The parade route started at Texas Avenue and Crawford Street and ended on Congress Avenue near the entrance to Minute Maid Park.

“Just like we are celebrating his dream, I want to encourage Houstonians to have dreams of their own,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said as he rode along in the parade.

This day is as much about Dr. King as it is about teaching those of us born in the 2000s about the civil rights movement.

“It’s very important for us to support not only the memory but the idea and the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King and what he stood for as far as unity and peace,” Dominick Oscar said.

As the younger generation watched in awe, the older generation remembered what fighting for freedom really looked like. They hope the importance of that isn't lost on the people in the streets.

The 23rd Annual MLK Grande Parade hosted by the Black Heritage Society continued the tradition Monday in Midtown with 15 floats and 30 marching bands.

PHOTOS: Thousands celebrate MLK across Houston

The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. on San Jacinto Street and Elgin and concluded at noon on Webster Street.

Co-grand marshals included Tina Knowles-Lawson, actor and producer Richard Lawson and attorney and philanthropist Ricky Anderson.

The parade's theme was “Celebrating Our Diversity.” Representatives from more than 300 culturally diverse performance groups were featured, and past Co-Grand Marshal Rushion McDonald was honored.

MLK Grande is one of the largest single-day multicultural events in the U.S. commemorating the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday and the third-largest parade in the country behind the Rose Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Up to 300,000 Houstonians were expected along the 1-mile route, with a projected home-viewing audience of more than 4 million.

QUIZ: The Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz

Following the MLK Grande Parade was the 11th Annual MLK Youth Parade, which began at noon near Houston Community College Central Campus.

The parade included 10 floats and originated in Midtown at San Jacinto Street and Elgin, ending at Webster.

The parade featured the Stephen F. Austin High School Marching Band and the Huntington High School Marching Band, leading a total of 20 bands and more than 100 performance groups.

For the complete parade lineup and additional information, visit mlkgrandeparade.org.