Local MLK Day events planned

SHREVEPORT, La. - As the nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, a number of events are planned locally to honor the slain civil rights leader.

KREWE OF HARAMBEE PARADE

One of Monday's biggest events is the Krewe of Harambee 14th Annual Mardi Gras/MLK Day Parade in Downtown Shreveport.

Newly-elected Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is serving as this year's Krewe of Harambee Parade grand marshal. This year's theme is Harambee goes to Wakanda.

The parade rolls at 1 p.m. from Municipal Auditorium, goes down Milam Street, turns on Edwards down to Texas Street and goes back to the Municipal Auditorium. Lineup for the parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the main lobby of the Municipal Auditorium.

If you can't make it to the parade in person, catch it live on KPXJ CW 21, ktbs.com, and streaming live on KTBS Everywhere. On Air, Online, and On The Go, including all of your connected TV devices.

KREWE OF KARAMBEE BREAKFAST

Before the parade, the Krewe of Harambee honors it's 2019 high school graduate scholarship recipients during breakfast at the Petroleum Club at 416 Travis Street at 8 a.m. Scholarship recipients will recite their essays and receive recognition.

These young scholars will encourage and inspire us all as they take us on a journey of how they have overcome odds in order to graduate and achieve their hopes and dreams of success.

MAYOR ADRIAN PERKINS & TEAM CLEAN UP NEIGHBORHOOD

Mayor Adrian Perkins and his team will roll their sleeves up on Monday, Martin Luther King Day of Service, to clean up the area in and around Pierre Avenue and Poland Street. His team will be on the ground at 8:30 a.m. picking up trash in this area that is supported by a $1 million Community Based Crime Reduction grant.

CENTENARY CEREMONY

The MLK Day of Service event will kick off at Centenary’s Gym with a brief ceremony that begins at 8:15 a.m. featuring Mayor Perkins and District 3 Commissioner Steven Jackson.

Volunteers will receive t-shirts and lunch will be provided on campus at the end of the service day.

DAY ON INSTEAD OF DAY OFF

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Lambda Omega Chapter is observing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a "Day On Instead of a Day Off" focused on serving the community. Chapter members will visit Heritage Manor West and present a donation of socks and other goodies to the residents. Heritage Manor West is located at 7060 Cottonwood Blvd. in Shreveport.

HARRISON COUNTY NAACP PRESENTS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION 

Residents in east Texas will honor Dr. King at the Marshall Civic Center.

An essay contest will include all Harrison County Schools. The Youth Talent in Action program begins at 1:30 p.m. This is a free event.

Monday at 6 p.m., there will be a banquet, also at the Marshall Civic Center. Tickets are $20 each. The keynote speaker will be Wiley College President Dr. Herman Felton Jr.

ABOUT MLK JR DAY

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, sometimes referred to as MLK Day, is a federal holiday marking the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King's birthday, January 15.