Parade, guest speakers, entertainment among Sanford's MLK celebration

SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford held its annual parade on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Marching bands and dozens of organizations marched down 13th Street as residents lined the streets to celebrate the life of King.

Dora Thompkins's family was on-hand for the parade.

"We got a mixture of everyone out here, and that's really what he wanted us to do," she said. "It's really what he fought for, that's what he died for, so we can all be together."

Annie Branch said she's been coming to the parade since it started in 1987. She said it has a special importance to her, because she grew up in the town of Midway when Sanford was still segregated.

"Separate water fountain, separate bathroom, and some places we couldn't even go in," she said.

Because of the work of King and other civil rights leaders, Branch said there has been much progress.

"It's very important to know where we came from and know where we're going," she said.

After the parade, there were guest speakers, entertainment and food at Fort Mellon Park.

The historic city of Goldsboro, where the parade was held, became the second black-incorporated city in the state when it was founded in 1891.

WFTV