CINCINNATI — Dr. Martin Luther King Junior will forever be remembered as the face and voice of the Civil Rights movement. In Cincinnati, hundreds marched in his honor and memory.
Among those right up front was 16-year-old Taft High School student Robert Whitt. He said just as Dr. King did during the Civil Rights movement, he hopes to inspire change.
“I think today, Martin Luther King Day is a representation of the impact that they made,” Whitt said. “The impact of all the Black civil rights activists, that they made — Malcolm X, Rosa Parks — it shows us that we really have a voice, that we have power. It shows us that we can do things that we never thought that we could.”
Many fraternity and sorority alumni were also part of the march, including Delta Sigma Theta. Cincinnati Chapter President Ligaya West said protecting voting rights was an important message to carry during the march.
“The importance of voting and making sure that everybody else has the opportunity to vote has always been woven into our organization,” West said. “So we will continue to press that, and continue to deliver that message and be a part of anything that’s positive. And that can help the community move forward.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was one of many local elected officials in attendance. He said despite the challenges of the weather or COVID, nothing can diminish MLK’s legacy.
“Hundreds of people came out today to march from the National Underground Freedom Center all the way to Washington, in part to reaffirm our commitment to the dream,” Pureval said. “To understand the progress that has made been made, but also that so much more work has to be done.”
People marching in the streets of Cincinnati for MLK Day.
Cincinnati resident Desmond Brown said MLK Day should be a day of mourning for MLK, who was assassinated for trying to change the world.
“Anybody who believes in some greater detail may believe in love and peace,” Brown said. “Their living example has been murdered for standing up for love and peace. They are clapping when their leader was killed. They are celebrating his death on his birthday. Make it make sense.”
People gathered for an interfaith prayer service at Washington Park for MLK Day.
One thing was clear to those marching, including young Robert Whitt, that the fight is not over.
“These people out here believe that racism can end, and it will end,” Whitt said.
Cincinnati’s MLK Day events wrapped up with a virtual program honoring the life and accomplishments of Dr. King.
