\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThousands of people across Central Florida gathered Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with parades and celebrations held in downtown Orlando and in Eatonville, the nation\u2019s oldest incorporated Black municipality.Crowds lined the streets to remember the civil rights leader who helped inspire generations.\u201cIt’s very encouraging, motivating and very prideful,\u201d said Victoria Musave, who attended the Eatonville parade. \u201cIt just encourages us to keep moving forward.\u201dAntonio Oliveiery, who traveled from Deltona, said the day was a chance to reflect and celebrate. \u201cI like to celebrate my Black heritage,\u201d he said.In Eatonville, Mayor Angie Gardner led the parade and emphasized unity in a time she says is marked by division.\u201cLook at the turnout. People are coming together. That\u2019s what MLK was about,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cWhen we come together, let\u2019s come together to unify, not to divide.\u201dFor some families, the celebration was also a first. Toddler attended his first MLK parade, learning the traditions from his parents \u2014 from waving to picking up candy along the route.\u201cYou\u2019re kind of teaching him how to do a parade,\u201d his father, Asante Rade, said. \u201cAbsolutely. Don\u2019t go too far out. Make sure he\u2019s not running. Wave until you get candy.\u201dRade said the day is about more than fun, especially for his son.\u201cIt\u2019s the culture. You really want to get them involved,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially with him being bi-racial, you want him to get both sides of his family, so it\u2019s extremely important to bring him to things like this.\u201dMore MLK Day events and celebrations are scheduled across Central Florida. A full list is available HERE.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tEATONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Thousands of people across Central Florida gathered Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with parades and celebrations held in downtown Orlando and in Eatonville, the nation\u2019s oldest incorporated Black municipality.<\/p>\n
Crowds lined the streets to remember the civil rights leader who helped inspire generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s very encouraging, motivating and very prideful,\u201d said Victoria Musave, who attended the Eatonville parade. \u201cIt just encourages us to keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Antonio Oliveiery, who traveled from Deltona, said the day was a chance to reflect and celebrate. \u201cI like to celebrate my Black heritage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In Eatonville, Mayor Angie Gardner led the parade and emphasized unity in a time she says is marked by division.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the turnout. People are coming together. That\u2019s what MLK was about,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cWhen we come together, let\u2019s come together to unify, not to divide.\u201d<\/p>\n
For some families, the celebration was also a first. Toddler attended his first MLK parade, learning the traditions from his parents \u2014 from waving to picking up candy along the route.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re kind of teaching him how to do a parade,\u201d his father, Asante Rade, said. \u201cAbsolutely. Don\u2019t go too far out. Make sure he\u2019s not running. Wave until you get candy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rade said the day is about more than fun, especially for his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the culture. You really want to get them involved,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially with him being bi-racial, you want him to get both sides of his family, so it\u2019s extremely important to bring him to things like this.\u201d<\/p>\n