Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Celebration

Safety Harbor FL

January 21, 2008

      The city and Safety Harbor African American Alliance commemorated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth with a breakfast, march and party in the park. The King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, with the national holiday marking his birth celebrated Monday, Jan. 21.  The event will start at the Safety Harbor Community Center with a Pancake Breakfast and a short program featuring local speakers. Free hot dogs, music, games and entertainment was part of the afternoon's activities in the park. Youngsters checked out the newly installed playground equipment in the park. This is the third year for the march, which last year attracted more than 200 participants. Local civic organizations, churches, groups and individuals were invited to participate in daylong activities.

    The Jan. 19 march is designed to resemble freedom marches King held all over the country from the mid-1950s until April 1968, when he was assassinated, to fight injustice and spread his message of equality for all. The march included the Countryside High School Marching Band and began at 10 a.m. at the Safety Harbor Community Center, 650 Ninth Ave. S.  Marchers proceeded along Second Street to Main Street and the gazebo at John Wilson Park and then onto Daisy Douglas Park, 601 Ninth Ave. N. Activities in the park took place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Participants had a chance to look at a Time Line Trail chronicling King's life.  All the proceeds from the breakfast will go to support the SHAAA Scholarship Fund.