MLK Celebration Committee explains why parade isn’t happening this year

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of Southeastern North Carolina held a press conference on Monday to outline events this week to honor the civil rights icon.

Events will start this Thursday and continue through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.

There will be everything from fireside chats to an event for the entire family.

“That’s followed by the Martin Luther King Day Family Fun Day, presented by the City of Wilmington Parks and Recreation. That’ll be on Saturday, January 18th.”

But the celebration’s signature event, the MLK Day parade, will not be held.

Clayton Hamerski is with the MLK Celebration Committee.

He said the parade was canceled due to concerns raised by Wilmington police.

“The Chief of Police, Donny Williams, came to our meetings and he expressed that he had some concerns that he wouldn’t be, the department wouldn’t be able to secure the perimeter of the parade and just so out of an abundance of caution, we decided to move the celebrations indoor,” Hamerski said.

Sonya Patrick, Southeastern Director of the National Black Leadership Caucus, said she was sad to hear the parade had been canceled and questioned the reason why.

“Safety is a precaution but we were very disappointed in the decision and it makes us wonder about our law enforcement,” Patrick said. “Because you can attend the parade and not be on duty so I think that might have had an impact as well far as the security of the parade.”

This year, instead of the parade, there will be an event at the Wilmington Convention Center, which will feature various performances and speakers.

There will also be a march on MLK Day, starting at 2:30 pm at Williston Middle School on South 10th Street in Wilmington.

Hamerski said the parade will return next year.