Downtown Fort Worth parade celebrates MLK following January postponement

February 20,2024

---

See full KERA article by Camilo Diaz here.

Rumbling down Ninth Street, the music of school marching bands shook the streets.

ROTC groups and car clubs followed as they honored the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Residents came together to celebrate the civil rights leader at the annual Downtown Fort Worth MLK Parade on Feb. 19.

The parade was scheduled for Jan. 15 but was postponed because of cold weather.

Fort Worth resident Valerie Zamarripa watched her grandson, a Junior ROTC cadet from South Hills High School, march in the parade. This was her first time attending the MLK Parade, she said.

“It teaches the kids to be responsible and be aware that, although we might all be different colors, we all bleed the same color,” Zamarripa said.

Arlington resident Tessa Carter also came to support her grandson, who attends Fort Worth ISD’s Young Men’s Leadership Academy. Carter was happy to see the community come together, she said.

Lt. Col. Richard Crossley, director of Fort Worth ISD’s Junior ROTC program, was excited to see the students come together to recognize King’s contributions.

“I feel great about this parade because our young citizen leaders that are in the JROTC program got a chance to not only do community service but also recognize the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,” Crossley said.