By Drew Teague

Lexington residents and students took to the streets Monday to honor a civil rights activist.

People gathered at Heritage Hall in the Lexington Center before 10 a.m. to take part in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative program, and what would be King’s 82nd birthday.

About 20 minutes before 10 a.m., singing began over the public announcement system, inviting everyone to join in the words to the songs passed out by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Many people brought their own signs or banners to carry during the walk, to show their organization or personal commitment to King’s mission.

Lexington resident Mike McNeal has been participating in the event for more than a decade and brought a self-made cloth sign featuring a portrait of King.

“The No. 1 word is peace,” McNeal said. “That’s what I’m all for. I’ve been coming to this for 15 years.”

McNeal helped lead the march with community leaders, like Mayor Jim Gray, proceeded down Vine, with various songs being sung along the way. The masses followed, smiling and enjoying the walk with friends and family, enduring the cold.

The march turned on Rose Street, and headed down to Main Street, where it made its way back to Heritage Hall.

Kalla Hughley, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, helped with the program, by passing out various things to those in attendance, from words to the songs that could be heard through the halls and the march, to the programs for the commemorative program.

“I just think it’s a great way for everyone to come together,” Hughley said. We’re all walking for the same cause, the freedom, celebrating MLK’s legacy. I think it’s great that we can all come together and do that. I don’t see white, black or Asian, as long as you’re marching for the freedom.”

At 11 a.m., Ann Grundy, co-writer/researcher for the MLK Holiday Program, came out on stage to have a few opening remarks, then everyone stood to join in with the singing of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing.”

The crowd then watched pre-taped messages from both Gray and UK President Lee Todd, who could not attend the program.

“That’s exactly what this is, a celebration, but it also presents an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves, as a nation,” Gray said. “Let’s think about this as our rededication and recommitment to Dr. King’s dream.”

Todd also commented on how special this event is, not just to him, but to many in the community and beyond.

“I wish I could be with you today, as this annual celebration holds a special place in my heart,” Todd said. “The University of Kentucky has a proud history with this event, from hosting the first such commemoration on our campus many years ago, to many throughout the campus community who have helped plan this event today.”

Ending the program was Daniel Beaty, an award winning performer and writer, performing his one man play titled “EMERGENCY!” The play is about a slave ship that appears in front of the Statue of

Liberty, and various people who are witnessing it, seeing their “testimonies on identity and personal freedom”, having played 43 characters by the end of the play.

King’s legacy and mission lives on with McNeal, who does not think of King’s name when he sees a picture, but instead the mission King set out to complete.

“That’s all I think about when I see [King’s] face, peace,” McNeal said.