HOUSTON — The weather didn’t stop the show this time round. The rescheduled MLK Day parade kicked off as planned, with spectators stationed along the route for some fun and to recognize the civil rights icon.
Complete with sounds, thrills and of course candy, the "Original" MLK Day parade has entered its 46th year.
“My uncle and my dad. They always used to bring me as a kid, so I’m keeping the tradition alive," said spectator Marcus.
Cold winter weather forced the city to cancel the parade in January, but the threat of rain this go around wasn’t enough to keep Scottie Stevens and his son Justin away.
“We participate every year, so this is an annual event for me and him to just come out,” said Stevens.
The Black Heritage Society and City of Houston lucked up that this wasn’t a wash out and the gloomy skies brought with it quite a bit of joy to groups like the Ripley House Charter School cheer squad.
"Ready to dance we ready to hear the bands," said cheer mom Lucia Lopez.
The Houston MLK Day parade is one of the oldest in the nation. Of course, it’s about having fun, but most importantly it’s about keeping alive the mission Dr. King set out on decades ago.
“Just to bring him out here to kind of see what’s going on as far as in today’s world so we’re still fighting for equality and justice," Stevens said.
This year's theme was "Brotherly Love is the Strongest Advocacy for Peace, Freedom and Justice for all."
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump served as grand marshal, supported by local leaders and legislators.
“It’s always about the future you know if you don’t know your past you don’t know where you’re going, so that’s why we come here to keep hope alive to keep the dream alive," said Marcus.