Marchers celebrate Civil Rights leader's legacy

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Hundreds turned out for the Martin Luther King, Jr. march Monday, January 21. They marched as individuals, families, and members of various civic and church groups.

First-time marchers Victoria Nichols and Lauryn Lewis weren't born when Dr. Martin Luther King was involved in the civil rights movement, but the ninth graders from Baker High School said their lives are different because of Dr. King’s efforts.

"It represents somebody that had an impact on our life by stopping troubles that we went through," Nichols said.

"I think it's important for everybody to know what it's about - freedom," Lewis said.

About 45 young men who belong to a civic group called the Imperial Knights Brotherhood for Empowerment said Dr. King paved the way for groups like theirs.

"Mostly these schools and these organization. His organization delivered people and helped people just to learn different things," group President Johnathan Sampey said.

At least one of the marchers has been around long enough to have known King personally.

Jerry Pogue said he worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and marched with Dr. King in Selma. He was glad to see young and old still embracing the Dream, but he said it's not here yet.

"We have a great deal to do. I mean, there many unreached goals that King and his organization tried to project and get the people to achieve, and I'm not so sure that we're reached that goal yet, some of the goals," Pogue said.

While Dr. King's message was one of non-violence, the march also recognizes the efforts of the military.

"We want to honor all the veterans that's in Mobile County," Floyd King said.

"The military has done more than any organization, and church, any individual to lay the groundwork for a level playing field for everyone. So I give that credit to the U.S. military and the efforts and vision of Dr. King," Dr. Barry Booth said.

Ronald Ali said it was no accident that the march fell on the same day as President Obama's Inauguration.

"We look at the president as fulfilling a portion of that dream, in terms of equality," Ali said.

The marchers made their way from the Bishop State campus to Lyons Park on Springhill Avenue for a huge rally. The event was sponsored by the group People United to Advance the Dream. The theme for 2013 was, "A New Day, A New Mission."