Hundreds brave cold to march in Southfield honoring MLK Jr. holiday

Southfield — Frigid conditions and dangerous wind chills Monday did not stop hundreds of people from marching through Southfield to honor Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader .

The cause – securing equality for everyone, no matter their skin color – is as important as ever, said Cassandra Brown, 74, of Troy. Brown fought for recognition of King's birthday when she worked as a first and second-grade teacher in Detroit and she has participated in the Southfield Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force's annual peace walk for decades.

"We want equality, we want justice, we want the same as everyone else," she said. "We're still working toward that goal, and that's what this is all about."

Before the 39th march on what would have been King's 95th birthday, Brown stood in the gymnasium of Hope United Methodist Church on Northwestern Highway with her boyfriend, Lorenzo Houston, 73, also of Troy.

They were bundled up in preparation of the cold trek to the Southfield Pavilion, where the task force hosted a celebration that included singing and dance performances as well as speeches about continuing King's legacy of civil disobedience and fighting for human rights.

Houston said the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration brings focus back to the effort required to work toward equality, justice and peace.

"Freedom is not free," he said. "It's a consistent thing that we have to work on, work together."

Monday's gathering was themed "Peace and Justice for the Next Generation," said Faira Glenn, task force president. The focus this year was to train young leaders to be like King and fight for peace and justice, she added.

Glenn has been involved with the organization for about 20 years, starting as a participant before volunteering for the annual event and then spearheading the group.

She was happy and surprised at Monday's robust turnout, considering the cold.

"Yesterday we had many conversations trying to figure out what to do, which way to pivot," she said. "We decided if Dr. King could do it, with his circumstances, that we could probably handle a quick walk down the road."

The march ended at the Southfield Pavilion, where there were prayers, music and dance performances and speeches honoring King's legacy.

The task force awarded former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence with the community service award for her long tenure in elected office, from school board to the city's first Black and first female mayor then to Congress.

"We took the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. and looked past the color of my skin and my gender and you voted to make history," Lawrence said.

Kamilia K. Landrum, executive director of the Detroit Branch NAACP, gave the event's keynote speech. She dug into the definitions of peace and justice, asking the crowd what kind of world and country they could inhabit if Black people had been able to flourish without facing the grave disturbances of slavery, Jim Crow laws and racism.

"In America, where could we be if our identifies were not disturbed, our culture and native language not ripped away from us and families torn apart?" Landrum asked.

She answered: there would be peace and equality, with outcomes like fairly funded schools, accurate history lessons and safe communities.

Landrum repeated messages from King's speeches and reminded the crowd he is celebrated because of his dedication to building a movement that fought peacefully for justice even in the face of violence and racism.

She encouraged the crowd to do more to invest in their communities, volunteer, vote and take action for justice.

"Whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward," she said.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that takes place the third Monday of January, near King’s birthday on Jan. 15.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed Monday as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Michigan. She and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist called on state residents to reflect on King’s legacy and commit themselves to advancing social justice, equality and freedom.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act and King’s Nobel Peace Prize, the Associated Press reported.

"Dr. King fought against injustice, discrimination, and hate. He was a proud American patriot who brought our nation closer to its highest ideals," Whitmer said in a statement. "By following his example, we can build on his legacy and make a real difference in people’s lives together." 

Communities across the nation celebrated the holiday on Monday with events ranging from prayer services to parades, but a dangerously cold winter storm was limiting some planned activities, the AP reported.