[Press Conference: "MLK Day Parade Details"]
[00:00:19]
I AM JOINED TODAY BY THERESA BREWER, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK CARRIAGE SOCIETY.
AND, UH, AND I BELIEVE SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
UM, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO COMMISSION.
ADRIAN GARCIA IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT HE'S ONE OF THE CO GRAND MARSHALLS, UM, UNITED AIRLINES, JAMELE STEELS, AND I DON'T SEE PASTOR WALK.
UH, AUGUST, UM, STELLA BANK, REPRESENTATIVE MARCUS VASQUEZ.
UM, AND THEN, UH, 10 NIC EVANS FROM HEB.
WHAT'S KEISHA? COME ON AND JOIN US.
SOMEBODY GONNA COME RIGHT OVER HERE FOR THE FOURTH YEAR.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PARTNERING WITH THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY TO CO-HOST A SPECTACULAR PARADE HONORING THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND AS I PREPARE TO LEAVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR DUE TO TERM LIMITS, I AM PROUD TO HAVE PUT IN PLACE AN MLK DAY PARADE PARTNERSHIP TO UNITE THE CITY BY HONORING DR. KING AND SHOWCASING THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S DIVERSITY.
ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 2024, OUR CITY WILL COME TOGETHER TO HONOR DR.
AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM ALL HOUSTON, ALL WALKS OF HOUSTON, ALL NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES TO SHOW UP AND LINE UP ON THE PARADE ROUTE.
THIS YEAR, WE'LL MARK THE 46 ANNUAL ORIGINAL MLK DAY PARADE, AND THERE WILL BE MORE THAN 100 PARADE ENTRIES.
THAT INCLUDES MARCHING BANDS, FANTASTIC FLOATS, SOME WELL-KNOWN CELEBRITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
TODAY I'M PRIVILEGED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP, WILL SERVE AS THE 2024 GRAND MARSHAL.
UH, MR. CRUMP, UH, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO, TO, UM, BEN CRUMP.
AND IS BRUCE CLU HERE TODAY? BRUCE IS BRUCE HERE.
UM, AND THOUGH BEN IS, UH, CRUMP IS NOT HERE, I THINK, UH, MANY OF US KNOW HIM, SOME KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, AND, UH, I'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO MEET WITH HIM, HAVE DINNER WITH HIM, AND HE WILL BE AN OUTSTANDING, UM, GRAND MARSHALL FOR THIS PARADE.
GRAND MARSHALLS ARE COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA AND PASTOR WALTER AUGUST JR.
UH, BEN CRUMP CAME TO NATIONAL INTENTION WHEN HE LED THE LEGAL CASE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN AND UNARMED BLACK TEENAGER, WHO WAS FATALLY SHOT BY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH VOLUNTEER IN FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE HAS ALSO BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT IN CASES THAT DEMANDED ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF TERRY NICHOLS, GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, AND MANY OTHERS.
HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN VIC VICTORIOUS IN EVERY COURTROOM, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER LOST A BATTLE TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND SHED LIGHT ON INJUSTICES AGAINST SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.
IT'S NOT JUST A NATIONAL FIGURE.
HIS LAW FIRM HAS AN OFFICE RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK OUR PARADE SPONSORS.
IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON A FLOAT, I'M MARCHING WITH THE BAND OR WALKING IN THE PARADE, I WANT TO SEE YOU LINED UP ALONG THE ROUTE.
KING'S LEGACY AND RECOGNIZE THE GREAT AC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR CITY, AND AS WE GATHER IN A WAY THAT DEMONSTRATES UNITY AND LOVE FOR OUR CITY THIS YEAR, LET'S MORE AS ONE, ONE FAMILY, ONE HOUSTON.
AND NOW LET ME PAUSE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND BRING UP BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY BOARD PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, UH, AND SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT, THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY.
APPRECIATE YOUR STRONG, COMPREHENSIVE, INCLUSIVE, ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERMENT, EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP STYLE, AND WELL WISHES AS YOU EMBARK ON THE NEXT PHASE OF YOUR JOURNEY.
THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY INC.
AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON COLLABORATE FOR THE ORIGINAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THE PARADE HONORS THE LIFE AND LEGACY AND TEACHING OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND WILL BE
[00:05:01]
HELD JANUARY THE 15TH, 2022 IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, STARTING AT T 2024, STARTING AT 10:00 AM AND WE ARE, UH, ELATED THAT ATTORNEY BING CRUMP, A RENOWNED NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYER, IS OUR GRAND MARSHAL.WE THANK MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER FOR APPROVING AND, UH, OUR GRAND MARSHALL ATTORNEY BEN CRUMP EM BODILY, THE TEACHING OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE HIM LEAD OUR PARADE AS, UH, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER SAID THAT OUR CO GRAND MARSHALL, WE PRESENT OUR COMMISSIONER, SORRY, HERE WE GO.
COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, THE YOUNGEST CHILD OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANT HAS BECOME THE COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT TWO.
HE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.
ADRIAN HAS DONE MUCH GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS DELIVERING MEALS TO SENIORS AND MAKING HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE.
A ADRIAN GARCIA COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA IS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS ROOTS.
HE SECURED HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DRAINAGE PROJECT AND COMPLETED 1.2 MILLION FEET OF ROAD DITCHES AND DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE TO PREVENT FLOODING IN OUR HOMES AND BUSINESS.
IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF ONE CHURCH AT BETHEL FAMILY, WHICH HE FOUNDED AND ORGANIZED.
HE WAS RAISED IN ABI LEEVILLE, LOUISIANA.
HE IS A VISIONARY PASTOR AND KINGDOM PIONEER, THOUGH HE THROUGH HIS DIVINE LEADERSHIP, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF EVERY ETHNICITY ARE AWAKENED TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
HIS GUIDING SCRIPTURE IS GALATIANS TWO 20.
I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIM HIMSELF FOR ME.
PASTOR AUGUST HAS LAUNCHED SEVERAL CHURCHES, 58 UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, 58 MINISTRIES UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
A ADDITIONALLY, HE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY BY FEEDING 50,000 AND MORE FAMILIES, THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY.
THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS, EM, BODILY BROTHERLY LOVE, SELFLESSNESS, DETERMINATION, DEDICATION TO THE DIVINE CALLING, RESULTING IN TRANSFORMATION.
OUR THEME IS THE, IS THAT BROTHERLY LOVE IS THE STRONGEST ADVOCATE, ADVOCACY FOR PEACE, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE HAVE, UM, REVEREND DERRICK KING, A SPECIAL GUEST.
HE IS A, A COMING TO THE PARADE AS WELL, AND HE IS A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE KING FAMILY.
THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES THAT, UH, SUPPORT BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY PARADE AND FESTIVITIES ARE RADIO ONE, REPRESENTED BY KEISHA NICOLE, UNITED AIRLINES BY JEREMIAH STEELS, HEB TANIKA EVANS, STELLA BANK, MARCUS VAL QUEZ.
WE ALSO HAVE A BC 13 AND MCDONALD.
WE THANK THESE SPONSORS FOR THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, WHICH MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PROMOTE THE LIFE LEGACY AND TEACHING OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND OUR LATE FOUNDER, UM, MR. IGHT DUNCAN TAIL.
I'D LIKE FOR THE BOARDS TO STAND UP, PLEASE.
MS. BEATRICE FOOT DUNCAN TELLS IN HER ABSENT AS WELL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS PRESENT PLEASE ARE DR. KING DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT PASSAGE IN 1964, WARREN, THE NOBEL PEACE, PRIZE AND CHAMPION NON-VIOLENCE.
THE VOTING RIGHT ACTS OF 1965 DIRECTLY CHALLENGED DISCRIMINATION,
[00:10:01]
JIM CROW LAWS AND PROHIBIT GERRY GERRYMANDERING BASED ON RACE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL PEOPLE.REMEMBER THAT BROTHERLY LOVE, STRONGLY ADVOCATES, PEACE, FREEDOM, JUSTICE, TRUTH AND LOVE.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD AGAIN TO JANUARY 15, UH, 2015.
AND LET ME ASK IF ANY OF THESE SPONSORS WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SAY A WORD OR, AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME AND, AND SHOW UP.
UH, KEISHA, COME ON YOU WITH RADIO ONE.
I KNOW YOU GOTTA WIN
WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT, UH, DR.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BLACK HAIR SOCIETY FOR CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO BE A SPONSOR AND, AND ALSO A PARTNER IN THIS PARADE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
UH, MARCUS VASQUEZ, STELLA BANK, APPRECIATE IT.
JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, AS WE REMEMBER DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND ALSO IT JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLOWING STELLAR BANK TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE, UH, DEMOCRACY IN BANKING AND PUSH DIVERSITY IN BANKING.
UH, THAT'S ONE OF OUR FOCUSES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE BANK AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY.
CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT HEB, UH, TAN EVANS.
ON BEHALF OF HEB, WE ARE TOO VERY HONORED AND PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY, PART OF OUR BE THE CHANGE INITIATIVE.
KING'S BIRTHDAY, WE CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AND HIS LEGACY.
LET ME ASK YOU TO PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.
JANUARY 15TH, UH, 10:00 AM AND, UH, FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO BE IN THE PARADE, UH, OTHER BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, UH, YOU NAME IT, UH, PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 15TH.
IN FACT, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO START REGISTERING.
WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN A HUNDRED ENTRIES ALREADY.
WELL, NOW, WELL NOW WE NEED THE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP
SO THE, THE PARADE LINEUP IS SET.
UH, SO THE ONLY PEOPLE MISSING WILL BE YOU.
SO LET ME ENCOURAGE, UM, ALL OF HOUSTON, UH, TO SHOW UP JANUARY 15TH, UH, 2024 AT 10:00 AM QUITE FRANKLY, UH, EVEN BEFORE 10:00 AM OKAY, LIKE 9, 9 30 WITH THE PARADE STARTING AT 10:00 AM AND, UH, LET'S, LET'S HAVE A GREAT SHOWING.
OKAY? SO AGAIN, PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR.
UTILIZE ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FORMS AND PLEASE, PLEASE SHOW UP.
UH, UM, I'M, I WON'T BE YOUR MAYOR, BUT I'M STILL AS HOUSTONIAN AND STILL SOMEONE WHO GREW UP, UH, LISTENING TO AND FOLLOWING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
SO, UH, LET'S CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE HIM.
SO HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, WE'LL SEE YOU ON JANUARY 15TH, 2024.
NOW, IF YOU ALL ARE COME TOGETHER, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.