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Rain delays MLK parade to Jan. 23
Mar 19, 2010
Rain postponed the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade Saturday, but didn’t dampen the spirit of organizers.
They have rescheduled the parade, which was scheduled to begin at noon, for the same time next Saturday, Jan. 23. Also, along with celebrating the life and work of Dr. King, the parade will serve as a reminder of his humanitarian deeds by launching a fundraising campaign for the people of Haiti.
“The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Committee of Laurel/Jones County had a special meeting and we decided that we would use the efforts of the parade to bring awareness of the earthquake victims in Haiti,” said Thaddeus Edmonson, committee president. “We wanted to try to raise money by asking people to donate to the American Red Cross and the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church.”
As part of the efforts to assist the people of Haiti, the American Red Cross will have a fundraising drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel. A truck will be in the mall parking lot for people to drop off cash donations.
The Rev. Jerry James, pastor of Second Allen A.M.E., is coordinating the fundraising efforts. James, one of the original members of the MLK committee, said the A.M.E. Church has launched a national campaign to raise funds to aide in disaster relief in Haiti.
“We have A.M.E. churches in Haiti,” he said. “We have people and churches in Haiti that we certainly want to help.
“During Hurricane Katrina, we had folks from Haiti calling and helping us. On tomorrow, we are asking each church in the 8th Episcopal District to give whatever they can for the mission and benevolence offering to the Haiti offering.”
Area A.M.E. churches are located in the 8th Episcopal District, headquartered in Jackson. Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry oversees the district that includes Mississippi and Louisiana.
“Food, clothing, water and shelter is being handled by the Red Cross and other agencies,” said James. “What they need in Haiti right now is manpower — workers.
“Finances are needed to help them get the high quality people that are needed to get the work done there,” James continued. “Recovery will be a long process.”
Jacqueline Evans, who headed the registration for the parade, encourages people to continue to support the activities the committee has planned to celebrate the life of Dr. King. The parade is one of the committee’s major events, she noted.
Like previously scheduled, parade participants will begin to line up at 10 a.m. Judging will take place at 11 a.m. Pinky Jones, co-founder and past chairman of MLK, Inc., is a former executive board member of EconoTax, Tax Pro Inc. of Jackson. She currently serves as president of National Tax Centers of Laurel.
From its humble beginning on her kitchen table, National Tax Centers now has seven locations throughout Mississippi and Louisiana.
Jones, who is also a motivational speaker, was featured on CNN Financial in a segment on franchising. Other accolades include an appointment to the Mississippi Minority Bond Bank by Gov. Bill Allain and an appointment to the Mississippi Small Business Committee by Sen. Trent Lott.
“Mrs. Jones is one of the original organizers of the local Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration,” said Edmonson. “We appreciate her work with us across the years.”
Evans said she appreciates the support from the community and hopes people will come out next Saturday. “When it didn’t look like we were going to get a break in the weather, we decided it would be best to postpone the parade,” she said. “We had 12 floats and cars who had registered for the parade, but there were several others who were going to participate today (Saturday).”
Evans also noted that four bands had signed up to participate. She added that since the parade has been delayed a week, others still have an opportunity to sign up to participate.
A battle of the bands will follow the parade and is scheduled to be held at Oak Park Stadium. Allan Cole and Rapper X2 of Win Win Global, an independent recording company headquartered in Los Angeles, who were scheduled to perform at the event, were unable to reschedule.
“We’re going to bring in a rap group out of Hattiesburg,” said Evans. “They are the same ones that performed at Oak Park Friday. It should be great.”
Those interested in contributing to “The Haiti Disaster Relief Fund” may phone Second Allen A.M.E. Church at 601-342-2739 church or the Rev. Jerry James at 662-931-1173. They can also mail checks or money orders to The Haiti Disaster Relief Fund, c/o Second Allen A.M.E., 1114 Anderson St., Laurel, Miss., 39440.
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