Ramonica Luckett traveled from Cypress to downtown Houston Monday morning to take part in the city’s first Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade.

“It’s really exciting that there’s finally one parade,” said Luckett, who was among the thousands crowding the Smith Street route. “It didn’t really make much sense for it to be two different parades, and I just think it’s great.”

Luckett and her family attended one of the two parades in past years, but said the name “unity” fits what the day represents.

The city of Houston, the Black Heritage Society and the MLK Grande Parade hosted the combined event, ending years of feuding parades.

Participants included school bands from across the area and representatives from the Houston Texans, H-E-B, the University of Houston, Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, and the grand marshals, Houston radio personality Mad Hatta, MLK Grande Parade Foundation CEO and Charles Stamps and Mayor John Whitmire.

As the parade began, Whitmire and other leaders waved from floats as music played from speakers and marching bands moved along the route. U.S. Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Al Green were also seen in the procession, as were a Superman character, Harris County Constable Precinct 7’s slab cars and numerous other officials.

Marisha Callens attended with her children, celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and continuing a family tradition.

“My grandmother took me to the parade, and I think it’s important to pass that on to the younger generation,” Callens said.

With a 10 a.m. start, the parade continued for hours through downtown as bands played, dance groups performed and marchers moved alongside one another.

Husband and wife Brian and Sojourner McLemore participated and said the parade included 340 entries, which became overwhelming at times.

Brian McLemore, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. a historically Black fraternity King also belonged to said the fraternity participates each year to support the parade.

“I really appreciated how they did the merge as far as the streets and made sure everyone was able to be incorporated,” Sojourner McLemore said.

This article originally published at Thousands attend Houston’s first Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade downtown.