[00:00:20]
BILLARD ANCHOR, UH, FOR FOX 26 HOUSTON'S MORNING SHOW.
A FEW OF YOU ALL HAVE ACTUALLY TOLD ME I WOKE Y'ALL UP THIS MORNING, SO I APPRECIATE IT IF I DID NOT WAKE YOU UP.
HOW ABOUT I WAKE YOU UP TOMORROW MORNING? I BEGIN AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I'M ON UNTIL 10:00 AM AND THEN I COME BACK AT 1130.
SO USUALLY I WILL BE ON TV RIGHT NOW UNTIL 1230.
SO WE'LL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE EACH OTHER TOMORROW MORNING.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
SO HONORED TO BE HERE TO BE, UH, YOUR MC AS WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND COME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND, UH, A MATTER OF UNITY.
SO, CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR UNITY AND THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
UH, WE HAVE A FULL PROGRAM, SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET STARTED.
I DO WANT TO THOUGH BEGIN AND ACKNOWLEDGE ANY, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF CLERGY, MEMBER OF THE FAITH-BASED, FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, COULD YOU STAND AND JUST WAVE HERE JUST FOR A SECOND? WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
SO WE ARE GONNA BEGIN, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WILLIE DAVIS, UH, WHO WILL BEGIN WITH, UH, WELCOMING OUR GUESTS, SPECIAL GUESTS, AND ALSO ANNOUNCE OUR COMAR CO GRAND MARSHALS TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'LL BE STRIKING THE PODIUM AT THE END.
SO AS SOON AS, HELLO FAMILY, HELLO.
MATTER OF FACT, UH, I COULD NEVER BE MORE, UH, PROUD.
I AM A PROUD NEWTONIAN, UH, BORN IN THIS TOWN IN THIRD WARD, TEXAS, AND YOU DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIRD WARD TEXAS.
AND, UH, AND SO IT HAILS THE GREATNESS OF THIRD WARD TEXAS.
AND, UH, AND I AM, I'M A PRODUCT OF THAT, BUT MORE SO I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF THE FACT THAT I'M A CITIZEN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THIS IS A HISTORICAL DAY TODAY.
UH, IT'S AMAZING DAY TODAY, AND I ONLY HAD A VERY SMALL PART IN THIS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP AND THE VISION OF OUR MAYOR TO WANT TO DO THIS AND TO FIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH.
UH, AND SO IT'S AN HONOR BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A MESSAGE GOING TO GO OUT ALL ACROSS THE NATION.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS WATCHING HOUSTON FOR MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
AND, UH, I MAYOR, I MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, I'M ALL, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK UNDER BOTH OF THEM.
SO I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT AND WELCOME OUR GUEST, OUR SPECIAL GUEST, UM, AND, UH, AND JUST TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS IS THE FIRST ANNUAL MLK UNITY PARADE.
YOU GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT.
THAT, THAT, THAT IS WHAT THE CITY NEED TO, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO SEE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO FEEL.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITY NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE ARE ABOUT.
AND SO I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT NOW IN THIS UNITY PARADE.
UH, IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE WE GOT HERE.
BUT, UM, I, I, I MUST SAY WHEN THE, WHEN OUR MAYOR, UH, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER THREW IT AT ME AND SAY, WILLIE, I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS ON.
UH, I WAS HAPPY TO DO IT BECAUSE WE, IT'S, IT'S NEEDED.
SO I WON'T ANNOUNCE OUR, OUR GRAND, OUR CO GRAND MARSHALS AND, UH, AND TO THEM TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, WHO THEY ARE.
UH, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THESE CO GRAND MARSHALS IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS AND OTHERS THEY'LL BE COMING UP AND, UH, AND TO SPEAK TO US.
BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW FROM MY HEART HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO SEE THIS COMING TO FRUITION.
AND I THINK ALL OF OUR FAITH LEADERS, UH, WHICH WE HAD OUR MEETING EARLY THIS MORNING, THAT'S WHY I WAS GETTING UP A LITTLE LATE.
WE HAD A GOOD CROWD DOWN THERE BECAUSE MY GOAL IS, IS UNITY.
EVERYTHING ABOUT UNITY AND THE FAITH LEADERS IN OUR CITY ARE SO NECESSARY AND SO IMPORTANT.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND WE WILL FURTHER OUR PROGRAM.
ANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE, UH, THIS MORNING, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND AS WELL AND WAVE JUST FOR A QUICK SECOND.
[00:05:04]
THANK YOU.ONE OTHER THING THAT I AM TO ANNOUNCE THE GRAND MARSHALLS
THERE IS A, THERE IS A SUCH THING AS YOU CAN BE OVEREXCITED.
YOU DO KNOW THAT, RIGHT? SO LET ME JUST TAKE THE MOMENT TO ANNOUNCE OUR GRAND MARSHALLS OF THIS GREAT UNITY PARADE BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, THAT WOULD NOT BE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.
SO I WANT TO TAKE THE MOMENT AND INTRODUCE TO YOU, MS. THERESA BREWER, UH, PRESIDENT COME ON.
AND PRODUCER OF THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY.
THESE RIGHT HERE ALSO, SHE'S THE LEADER OF IT, BUT THE GRAND MARSHALS IS, IS BROTHER MAD HATS MAD HATTER.
AND, UH, AND SO WE GOING TO HAVE THE MAD ON NOW.
EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND I ALSO KNOW, GET A CHANCE, KNOW IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING TO HAVE HIM AS OUR GRAND MARSHALL.
AND THEN OUR SECOND ONE, GRAND MARSHALL IS NONE OTHER THAN CHARLES STAMPS BROTHER STAMP.
SO, UH, WHAT I WANT TO DO, I THINK, DID WE WANT THEM BOTH TO COME UP THE GRANT MARSHALLS THE MAYOR.
OKAY, WELL, ON THESE NOTES THAT THEY PUT DOWN HERE, THAT
SO NOW THIS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW DO YOU DO INTRODUCE TO MY, DO I DO IT? YES.
SO WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR MC.
HOW MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THE SAINTS GET EXCITED SOMETIMES.
UH, ALSO, OUR GRAND MARSHALL WILL BE THE 63RD MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON, THE HONORABLE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO WOULD BE COMING A GROUP I KNOW.
I WANT HIM TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.
THIS IS NOT JUST A SPECIAL EVENT TODAY.
AND THE PARADE, THE UNITY PARADE, IS NOT JUST A SPECIAL PARADE.
IT'S A HISTORIC DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YES, IT'S A HISTORIC PARADE OF UNITY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, MS. BREWER, YOU COULD BE MY GRAND MARSHALL ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
AND IT'S NOT FOR US GROWNUPS, AND IT'S NOT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, QUITE FRANKLY.
THIS SHOULD BE A HISTORY LESSON.
AND LET'S CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION INTO THE PULPITS, INTO CITY HALL.
YOU KNOW, I RAN FOR MAYOR TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER.
WE HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, GREAT CITY WITH ITS DIVERSITY, BUT TOO MANY DAYS WE'RE NOT AS UNITED AS WE SHOULD BE.
AND I KNOW THESE DAYS WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNDER ATTACK.
AND I THINK THAT'S A FAIR DESCRIPTION.
WE PROTECTED THE CITY'S DISPARITY STUDY.
THANK YOU TO MY MAYOR, PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM, BROADER WISDOM.
IT WAS THE FIRST APPOINTMENT I MADE, BUT SHE BROUGHT HER WISDOM TO THE COUNCIL TABLE.
[00:10:01]
BUT SHE AND LENCIA HOARD MY OFFICE.A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SHOWED THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR FAIRNESS, INCLUSIVENESS, THAT WE PROTECTED OUR DISPARITY STUDY WITH A LARGE EMPHASIS ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ANXIETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT ACTUALLY ACROSS NATION, BUT THAT'S WHY WE NEED A STATEMENT OF UNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON DISPLAY TODAY AND WILL BE DISPLAYED DURING THE PARADE.
SO I GOT HERE AT CITY HALL AND VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WAS MS. BREWER, MR STAMPS, YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY TRADITIONAL, PROUD PARADES.
I DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE DID I START OUT? DID I START OUT? I WANTED TO ATTEND BOTH.
AND I REALIZED, I REALIZED QUICKLY WITH BALL LIST, A LITTLE BIT OF PHONE CALLING SAN AN ANTONIO HAS A LARGER MLK PARADE THAN HOUSTON, AND THEY HAVE A SMALL AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION.
I SAID TO MY STAFF, LET'S GET ALL THE PARTIES TO TOGETHER SO WE CAN DO THIS RIGHT IN AS LARGE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
MY STAFF, SOME WHO'VE BEEN AT CITY HALL FOR YEARS, SAID, DON'T GO THERE.
DON'T GO THERE YOU ARE JOHN WHITMEYER, AND YOU WERE RAISED IN A BLACK CHURCH AND HAVE A BLACK HEART.
SAID, AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.
AND WHITE MAYORS STAY AWAY FROM IT.
BUT I KNEW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR DR. KING.
THIS IS WHY YOU RUN FOR OFFICE.
THAT'S WHY YOU LEAD A CONGREGATION.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THE MAYOR PRO TEAM.
AND REVEREND PRESTON, A MEMBER OF METRO, YOU KNOW, I I I JUST HAD A THOUGHT.
I HEARD PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAK AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LBJ LIBRARY.
I DON'T WANT EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER THIS 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS LESSON WITH US TODAY.
WE ALL ADMIRE THE WISDOM OF OF PRESIDENT OBAMA.
AND HE WAS THERE TO PAY HIS RESPECT TO LBJ.
NOW, LBJ, WHEN HE WAS A US SENATOR, SOUTHERN SENATOR SEGREGATIONIST BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER THE TRAGEDY OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD TEED UP THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL, DID THE HARD LIFTING, BROUGHT PARTIES TOGETHER, RACES TOGETHER.
LBJ WAS THE PRINCIPAL, WAS THE PRESIDENT.
IT WAS TIME TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU MOVE THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL FORWARD OR PLAY POLITICS.
HIS STAFF SAID, DO NOT SIGN IT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'LL NEVER GET REELECTED.
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CARRY THE SOUTHERN STATES.
PRESIDENT OBAMA REPEATING HISTORY'S WORD SAID LBJ LOOKED AT HIS STAFF AND SAID, THEN WHY BE PRESIDENT IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO SOMETHING HISTORIC THAT MAKES A DIFFERENT FOR CIVILIZATIONS? WHAT A, WHAT A REMARKABLE LESSON.
AND I'VE TAKEN TO CITY ALL EACH DAY, WHY BE MAYOR? WHY BE A PASTOR? WHY BE THE GRAND MARSHAL IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE YOUR POSITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THAT SHOULD BE OUR GUIDING LIGHT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MARTIN LUTHER THE KING WAS THE ARCHITECT AND HE PAID THE ULTIMATE FOR HIS CONVICTIONS AND HIS WORK.
SO LET'S REMEMBER THE REAL MEANING OF THIS PARADE.
WE CELEBRATE TODAY, THE UNITY.
I'M PROUD OF REBECCA WILLIAMS ON MY STAFF WHO WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY.
[00:15:03]
I SAW MR. STAMPS DURING THE LAST PARADE, COLD DAY.AND I SAID, I SURE WANT TO GET WITH YOU.
HE SAID, I'M PREPARED TO TALK.
MS. BREWER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE AN ICON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE COULDN'T BE DOING THIS WITHOUT YOU.
SO WHAT A CELEBRATION OF UNITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT I RAN FOR MAYOR.
I ALREADY HAD HAD A POLITICAL CAREER.
WE'RE HERE TO FIX THINGS, UNITE, HOUSTONIANS, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE REACTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PARADE.
IT'S GONNA ALLOW, I'LL SEE THE BANDS WILL HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME.
THEIR PARENTS WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER TO RECOGNI RECOGNITION OF DR. KING.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WORK, HIS GREATNESS THAN TO HAVE THE BEST EVER RECOGNITION DURING THE MLK.
THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
GIVE IT THAT ONE MORE TIME FOR MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
AND MAYOR, I LIKE THAT PINSTRIPE SUIT.
I'M A LITTLE BIT TALLER, BUT YOU GONNA HAVE TO DIRECT ME TO WHERE YOU GOT IT FROM.
ALL RIGHT, IT IS MY HONOR NOW TO INTRODUCE MS. THERESA BREWER, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY, AND MY BROTHER MAD HATER RADIO PERSONALITY FOR, UH, RADIO ONE.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE JUST TERRIBLY EXCITED.
WE HAVE THE LEGENDARY MATT HATTER STANDING HERE.
AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER FOR SUCH A WARM EMBRACE AND WELCOME THIS PROCESS AGAIN.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY.
I AM THERESA BREWER, THE BOARD PRESIDENT, AND IT IS WIDELY KNOWN THAT I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF IGHT DUNCAN.
TELL JUNIOR, HE WAS THE ORGANIZER OF THE NATION'S FIRST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
PARADE AND STREET NAMING IN 1978 TO HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S JR.
DREAM LIFE AND LEGACY AT THE BE HESS OF REVEREND SENIOR REVEREND KING, SENIOR.
SO WE, UM, I'M SO GLAD, I'M SO PROUD TO STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR LATE IGHT DUNCAN.
SO THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ALL OF US.
THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE AND WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND, PLEASE.
THE COMMITTEES, UH, DON'T HAVE ME CALL NAMES.
ROBERT HAMED, MS. HELEN JOHNSON, MS. THELMA SCOTT, IF YOU ALL CAN'T STAND, PLEASE, UH, WOULDN'T BE HERE.
EVEN, UH, REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS.
UM, WE HAVE MS. SHERRY BROWN AND SHE'S ALWAYS SUPPORTING US.
AND LET ME NOT FORGET MY HUSBAND, GLEN BREWER.
SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS WITHOUT HIM.
BUT JUST WANT, IF YOU ALL STANDING, YOU MAY BE SEATED
[00:20:02]
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.AGAIN, WE THANK YOU MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND THE GRAND PARADE.
MR. CHARLES STAMPS, UH, WE PRESENT, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THE FIRST MARTIN LUTHER KING UNITY PRAYED ON JANUARY THE 19TH, 2026, A SINGLE PARADE TAKING PLACE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.
AS WE EMBRACE THE SHARED HUMIDITY, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LIFE CAN CHALLENGES, PRESENT CHALLENGES, HOWEVER, A BUILT ON JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND UNITY CREATE AND HAVE ATMOSPHERE OF HOPE FOR ALL.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.
THE LATE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
REMIND US, WE MUST LIVE, WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS OR PERISH AS FOODS.
THIS YEAR, MARTIN LUTHER KING UNITY PARADE IS EXTRAORDINARY AS IT WILL BE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
IN HOUSTON DIVERSITY, WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT OUR GRAND MARSHALL, THE LEGENDARY MAD HAT.
I, THIS DISTINGUISHED ROLE IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHOSE LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND DEDICATION TO ADVANCING EQUALITY, UNITY, AND BODY.
THE ENDURING OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
HIS CONTRIBUTION MAKE HIM AN IDEAL HONOREE.
OUR CO GRAND MARSHA, IF THEY COULD STAND AND JUST BE HERE IN THE FRONT AS I CALL THEIR NAME.
WE HAVE FREDDY JACKSON AS OUR CO GRAND MARSHA AND DEBORA NIXON HAS DEMONSTRATED.
STAND, PLEASE COME FORWARD HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND THE VALUES OF DR. KING, MAKING THEM OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS HONOR.
THEY WILL NOT ONLY HELP LEAD THE HISTORICAL PARADE, BUT ALSO INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY IN ITS ONGOING PURSUIT OF UNITY, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO, WE WELCOME OUR HISTORICAL GUESTS, AND THAT IS REVEREND DERRICK KING, THE NEPHEW OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, WHO'VE BEEN, WHO'S BEEN WITH US SINCE THE FIRST PARADE IN 1978.
DO WE HAVE THE PHOTOS OF REVEREND DERRICK KING? DO WE HAVE THE PHOTO? AND JEFFREY PECK, HE'S HERE.
THE GREAT GRANDSON OF WEB DE BOSS, JEFFREY PECK, ARE YOU HERE? WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY SUPPORT.
AND, UM, I WILL DO A SHOUT OUT FOR UNITED AIRLINE, OUR AIRLINE WHO TAKES CARE OF US.
ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE TODAY? UNITED AIRLINE RADIO.
ONE WE KNOW, KNOW, HE'S REPRESENTING BANK AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN SPIRIT OF HOPE, UNITY, AND LOVE.
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FESTIVAL FEATURES PODCAST, COMEDY JAM, MARTIN LUTHER KING CHOIR AND FELLOWSHIP WITH BISHOP DIXON AND THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH.
WE ALSO WILL BE HAVING THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FESTIVAL, SICKLE CELL AWARENESS.
DR. CALDWELL, ARE YOU HERE? DR.
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE TOPICS.
SO HE WILL BE DOING THE, UH, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CHOIR AND FELLOWSHIP.
AND YESTERDAY WAS HIS BIRTHDAY.
THE HISTORICAL EVENTS ENDURES THROUGH THE DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, COURAGE, AND EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU.
EACH YEAR, THE PARADE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THE BLACK HERITAGE SOCIETY EXTEND GRATITUDE TO HOUSTON, MY HOME, TRINITY GARDEN, TRINITY GARDEN IN THE HOUSE,
[00:25:01]
TRINITY GARDEN, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR OUR SPONSORS, LEADERS, AND ALL WHO GENEROUSLY DONATE AND SUPPORT THIS EVENT.THEY LIKE, HEY, YOU GOTTA SAY SOMETHING.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS VERY INTIMIDATING TO SPEAK WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE HOTTEST CLERGY IN THE CITY IN THE BUILDING.
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY SIT THERE AND THEY ANALYZE EVERYTHING.
PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD NEVER MAKE IT IN THIS GAME.
Y'ALL PUT THE PICTURE BACK UP WITH THE MAYOR.
I GOTTA CLICK THAT SO I CAN SHOW MY WIFE THAT.
THEY'RE LIKE, LOOK, THEY HAD ME CLOSE TO THE MAYOR IN A PICTURE,
STAMPS, UH, MA'AM, LISTEN, FOR YEARS, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE.
UH, I'M EXCITED TO STILL BE IN THIS CITY ON RADIO AND ABLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL PICKED ME 'CAUSE I'M NOT WORTHY.
I SEE SO MANY WORTHY PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING.
I'M A GUY WHO GETS ON THE RADIO AND TALKS SOME TRASH AND GO HOME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.
UH, BUT TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THIS PARADE, AND LET ME TELL YOU THE WORD UNITY, REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE DAY AND TIME THAT WE ARE LIVING IN, IT SEEMS LIKE WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF UNITY NO MORE.
SO FOR ME, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME.
AND I THINK THE MAYOR ALREADY SAID IT.
FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND DO THIS, AND BE THE SHINING BRIGHT STAR FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, TO SEE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND DO THINGS AS ONE.
AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT? MY PASTOR.
I AIN'T GONNA LIE, I WAS PRACTICING.
THEY'VE BEEN TELLING ME IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TRANSITION.
ONCE AGAIN, I, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT CHOSEN.
I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE UP THERE AND RIDE WITH EVERYONE.
I SEE SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO MOVE THIS CITY.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU ARE THE FIRST ONES ON THE LINE.
YOU PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE, YOUR CAREERS ON THE LINE.
YOUR FAMILY IS PROBABLY MAD AT YOU HALF THE TIME.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM, ALL THE POLITICIANS, BECAUSE Y'ALL SIT THERE AND BEAT IT AND I CAN'T DO IT.
BUT YOU DO IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, AND I'M JUST GONNA END IT RIGHT THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM, FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SIR.
ALRIGHT, GIVE IT THAT ONE MORE TIME FOR MS THERE BREWER AND OUR GRANT MARSHALL, MATT HATHAM.
LET ME BRING UP NOW MR. CHARLES STAMPSY IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MLK GRAND PARADE, WHO WILL BE GIVING REMARKS THIS LORD.
AND GOOD, I GUESS, IS IT STILL MORNING, GOOD MORNING, OR GOOD AFTERNOON? MY NAME IS TROLL SAM, UH, CHAIRMAN OF HILL THEM.
IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE HERE.
AND, UH, LIKE THE HEADER SAID, I'M NOT SURE WHY I WAS SELECTED TO BE GRAND MARSHALL OR CO GRAND MARSHALL.
THERE ARE BETTER TRUTH, BUT I WILL LIKE TO SAY THIS AND QUOTING DR. KING, THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS MEASURED BY WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE.
THAT'S AS OPPOSED TO WHERE A MAN STANDS, UH, IN MOMENTS OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.
ANY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE ON THIS STAGE OR IN THIS ROOM GETS THAT BUILT.
SO I AM EXTREMELY HUMBLE, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS OCCASION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ENVISION AND I'M TRYING TO KEEP A, A STRAIGHT FACE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE ON JANUARY 19TH IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES.
WE'VE ALSO CREATED A TEMPLATE THAT OTHER CITIES ARE FOLLOWING AS WE SPEAK BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, UH, BEFORE.
[00:30:01]
THERE IN PLAIN SIGHT, BUT NOBODY TOOK THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK FOR AN ANSWER UNTIL NOW.THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WAS TAKING PLACE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, LEADING UP TO THIS POINT THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE PRESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE LIKES OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON REYNOLDS.
UH, KEVIN HAMPTON, I THINK I SAW HIM EARLIER.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS UNDER THE RADAR FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND WE WERE ALWAYS CLOSE, BUT WE NEVER GOT OVER THAT, UH, UM, THAT INITIAL POINT.
UNTIL ONE DAY A CERTAIN VETERAN APPROACHED ME.
AND, UM, I'M A VETERAN AND I LOVE VETERANS, BUT I HATE GREEN BERET, AS WILL AS WILLIE DAVIS.
PEOPLE WHO LIKE SNAKES AND SLEEP WITH SNAKES DON'T UNDERSTAND.
UH, SO I LISTENED TO HIM AND HE ASKED ME A QUESTION THAT HAD NEVER BEEN ASKED ME BEFORE.
HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T SAY OR ASK WHY.
AND I HAD TO THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND I COULDN'T REALLY GIVE HIM AN ANSWER.
BUT IN THE MILITARY, YOU'RE TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME AN OBJECTIVE BEFORE YOU CAN ELIMINATE AN ENEMY.
SO HE IDENTIFIED, WE BOTH IDENTIFIED WHAT THE OBJECTIVES WERE.
WE OVERCAME 'EM, AND WE CONCLUDED THAT, OKAY, LET'S JUST WORK ON THE THINGS THAT WE AGREE ON.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE NOW, I AM VERY PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED, UH, UH, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A TREE BY THE FRUIT OF BEARS.
I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TREE.
AND THE FRUIT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION REFLECTED IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
STARTING WITH MY ADOPTED BROTHER OVER HERE, RICARDO.
AFTER WORKING WITH HIM, I HAVE A DIFFERENT SENSE AND APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT THAT'S IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
UH, CHIEF DIAZ TAUGHT ME SOMETHING.
UH, THE FIRST THING HE TAUGHT ME IS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS PAY FOR LUNCH EVERY, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
BUT HE HELPED ME PUT A FACE TO CITY GOVERNMENT AND CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND NOW WHEN I LOOK AT CHIEF, I DON'T LOOK AT HIM AS BEING A ANOTHER COP, THE HEAD OF THE COPS.
UH, HUSBAND, FATHER, SOCCER MOM, I'M SORRY, SOCCER DASH.
AND THE SAME THING WITH THE CHIEF, UH, THE FIRE CHIEF AND EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEAD.
I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT BEFORE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT AND, AND OTHER THINGS, UM, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FEEL AS THOUGH, UH, THE WAY THAT I DO RIGHT NOW ABOUT THIS.
SEE THEN, SPEAKING OF KNOWING A TREE BY THE FRUIT THAT BEARS YOU GUYS, GIVE ME TOO MUCH CREDIT.
YOU MAKE MY STAFF MAKE ME LOOK GOOD.
AND THEY'RE MOSTLY BORDERLINE GENIUSES FOR HOGAN.
UH, CHANTELLE BARKLEY, STAN AS I SPEAK, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
UH, MONIQUE MASON, CJ EDEN, DR. JOHNSON, UH, MICHAEL YARBOROUGH.
IN FACT, EVERYBODY WHO'S ASSOCIATED WITH OUR EFFORTS, PLEASE STAND.
I WANT PEOPLE TO SAY HOW, HOW NUMEROUS WE ARE AND HOW DIVERSE WE ARE.
AND THAT INCLUDES MY LITTLE GIRLFRIEND, THE CROWN, ALSO
I WANT TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR MAKING ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE.
UM, SPECIAL THANKS TO WILLIE WILLIE DAVIS, EVEN THOUGH HE'S A GREEN BERET.
[00:35:02]
AND I WAS AN AIRBORNE RANGER, BY THE WAY.AND ALL OF THE OTHER, UH, MANY WILL WITCHERS AND SUPPORTERS.
BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO SAY THIS, WE ARE REPRESENTED BY 26 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS PARADE THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON METROPLEX.
SEVERAL OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEY'LL REPRESENT IT.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS TAKEN ALL OF THEIR SCHOOLS, ALL OF THEIR MARCHING BANDS AND COMBINED THEM INTO ONE SINGLE PARADE.
THE PARADE, THEY ARE FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE ALL REPRESENTED UNDER ONE BANNER.
NEXT IS A LEAF ISDI THINK THEY MAY BE THE LARGEST.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY HELPED.
THEY'RE COMING IN 36 SCHOOL BUSES.
UM, IT'S OLD DEAN AND I DON'T KNOW IF CLEVELAND ACTUALLY IS IN THE HOUSE.
AND CLEVELAND, TEXAS, JUST NORTH OF US.
THEY ONLY HAVE ONE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE JUNIOR SCHOOL, AND TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THE MARCHING BAND CONSISTS OF TWO OF THE MEMBERS, BUT THE ENTIRE PARTICIPATION FROM CLEAVER
SO THAT MEANS THAT THE WHOLE CITY IS COMING.
THIS WAS AND EARS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE VISION, VISION OF DR. KING ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE WITH US WORKING ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.
AND I THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT HE ALLOWED ME TO, TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH.
IT PROBABLY WILL BE MY LAST PARADE.
I AM, I WAS GONNA SEE HIM ALMOST AS OLD AS WILLIE, BUT I GOT HIM BEAT BY ABOUT SIX YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW HE, OH, HE DOES.
MARY, I WANT YOU HERE 'CAUSE I'M GONNA BE HERE
BUT THE PARADE COINCIDES WITH MY BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS JANUARY 19TH, AND I'LL BE 76 YEARS OLD.
AND THEN THE FINALLY, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PARADE IN HOUSTON THAT CONSISTED OF 36 MARCHING BANDS.
18 FLOATS IN 26 CLASSIFICATIONS FOR FLOATS.
UH, AS OF OUR ACCOUNT AS OF MONDAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 12,000 INDIVIDUAL PARADE PARTICIPANTS AFTER TODAY.
AND THAT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
UM, THANK ALL OF YOU AND, UH, YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
I HAD NO FULL APPRECIATION FOR THE EMOTION AND PASSION OF HIS CEILINGS TOWARD THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE UNITED PARADE.
WE COULD NOT HAVE OUR PARADE AND BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT OUR FIRE CHIEF MUNOZ IN HIS RANK AND FILE.
AND CHIEF DIAZ, HPD, THEY WILL BE THERE PROTECTING US.
AND WHILE I HAVE THE MIC, I'VE, I'VE RECEIVED MANY AWARDS IN MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER.
LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE, THIS IS THE GREATEST.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG I'M IN PUBLIC OFFICE, THIS WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST HONOR FOR ME TO BE UP HERE AND RECOGNIZE WITH THE OTHER MARSHALS, BUT MOSTLY WITH EVERYONE THAT'S IN THIS ROOM.
I'M A BLESSED, I'M A BLESSED PERSON.
SO THIS WOULD ALSO, UH, NOT BE,
[00:40:01]
UH, DO WITHOUT, UH, OUR SPONSORSHIPS AS WELL.AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE REVEREND UH, T LEON PRESTON, UH, THE YALE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, WHO WILL, UH, BE ACKNOWLEDGING SOME OF OUR SPONSORS AS WELL TODAY.
WELL, WHAT A GREAT OCCASION THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFFORDED TO BE A PART OF.
I COME FROM THE STREETS OF FIFTH WARD ALL THE WAY TO THIRD WARD.
SO I HAD NOT HEARD FIFTH WARD MENTIONED IN HERE, BUT I WAS BORN IN FIFTH WARD AND RAISED IN THIRD WARD.
AND SO, UM, AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ON SOUTH PARK BOULEVARD, WHICH BECAME, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
UH, THIS, I'M, I'M GREAT GRATEFUL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, AS FIRST VICE CHAIR OF METRO, UH, WE OWE A, A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE TO OUR MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER.
COME ON, LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS GREAT EVENT.
UH, THERE ARE SOME WORDS FROM THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND HE SAYS, WE ARE CAUGHT UP IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY.
WE HAVE PROVEN THAT WE HAVE COME TOGETHER.
METRO'S ROLE KEEPING HOUSTON MOVING.
WE, WE WANT EVERYONE TO FOCUS, UH, DURING THE DAY OF THE, THE CELEBRATION, THE PARADE.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO FOCUS UPON CELEBRATING AND NOT ON THE TRAFFIC.
SO THIS YEAR, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, RIDES TO THE MLK PARADE WILL BE COMPLIMENTARY.
IT'S, IT'S METRO'S WAY OF MAKING IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER.
AND TO HONOR THE LATE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
YOU CAN CELEBRATE JOYFULLY AND YOU CAN CELEBRATE SAFELY.
AND, AND HERE'S HOW METRO IS GONNA HELP TO GET YOU THERE.
OUR THREE METRO RAILS WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND IT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT ONTO THE PARADE ROUTE.
TRAINS ARE RUNNING EVERY FEW MINUTES, SO IT'S GONNA BE THE FASTEST WAY TO COME IN AND TO JOIN THE CELEBRATION THAT'S GONNA BE RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.
AND MANY OF OUR LOCAL BUSES WILL CONNECT DIRECTLY.
WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT INTO DOWNTOWN.
SO JUST PLAN YOUR TRIP BY USING THE RIDE METRO APP AND, OR YOU CAN LOOK AT, YOU CAN FIND THE RIDE METRO.ORG ON YOUR WEBSITE.
AND, UH, WE'RE HONORED TO PARTNER ONCE AGAIN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS PARADE ORGANIZERS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A VERY SAFE AND ENJOYABLE DAY.
COME ON, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THIS HISTORICAL EVENT.
AND TO THE CO MARSHALS, THE CO GRAND MARSHALS, WE CAN'T HELP BUT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY CELEBRATING THIS WITH YOU.
AND WHO PUT YOUR METRO? OH, LET, LET ME, LET ME NOT FORGET.
LET ME NOT FORGET, UH, AS, AS, AS HUMBLE AS I FEEL IN MY HEART, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO BE ON THE METRO BOARD BY NINE.
NONE OTHER THAN OUR OWN MAYOR.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT ANY BETTER.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICE HERE FOR THE PARADE, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I WANT TO, UH, COMMEND YOU ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT AND NOW YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
I, I WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR BIGGEST SPONSOR AND THAT'S UNITED AIRLINE.
AND THEY GOT A LOT GOING ON, BUT I WANNA THANK THEM.
STAMPS, YOU BROUGHT UP A A GREAT POINT.
WE GOT BANDS ALL OVER THE HOUSTON AREA THAT'S COMING.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, IF IT WASN'T FOR UNITED HELPING US, WE HAVE WORTHING COMING BACK AGAIN.
JACK, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT HERE FROM THE HOUSTON AREA.
SO WE ARE JUST EXCITED AND WE WANT UNITED AIRLINE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE.
OUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY HAVE ALL THE NAMES AND, UM, WHERE WILL, BUT YES,
[00:45:01]
WE ARE EXCITED AND WE WANT THIS HERE, GREAT CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO ENJOY THIS PARADE AGAIN.AND THEN WE REALLY PRAY FOR, OKAY.
WE HEARD THE MAYOR, UH, REFERENCE OUR, UH, POLICE CHIEF, UH, NOE DIAZ AND OUR, UH, FIRE CHIEF THOMAS MOZ.
COULD YOU ALSO GIVE THEM A, A HAND CLAP AS WELL? OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW, UH, SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL OF COURSE ALWAYS BE A PRIORITY DURING THIS PARADE, AND THEY WILL BE AT THE HELM OF THAT.
UH, SO WE THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE AS WELL.
I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING ALONG, SO WE, UH, DEFINITELY WE HAVE SO MANY OF THE SAINTS IN HERE, PASTORS AND PREACHERS IN HERE.
SO WE CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT PRAYING Y'ALL OUT.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA, UH, BENEDICT AND THEN WE WILL, UH, HEAD OUT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
YOU KNOW, AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE OUR NAACP PRESIDENT, PASTOR JAMES DIXON WHO JOINED US.
HE'S ALSO WONDERFUL PART OF HOUSTON SOCIETY.
COME ON, LET'S STAND AND WE WILL HAVE OUR PRAYER.
WE WANT TO CERTAINLY PRAY FOR THE STRENGTH OF US AND ALL OF WHAT'S ABOUT TO TRANSPIRE.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING AND WE CANNOT THANK OUR MERE ENOUGH AND HIS VISION TO BRING OUR CITY TOGETHER AS ONE.
E ETERNAL OF GOD, WE DO THANK YOU AGAIN THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BREATH THAT WE BREATHE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE.
I BELIEVE IN THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART.
THIS IS THE GREATEST CITY IN AMERICA.
I BELIEVE IN OUR HEART THAT WE HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT ANY CITY IN AMERICA, WE NEED TO SHOW IT.
LET US BE THE EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE NATION OF HOW WE CAN BECOME ONE AND SHOW OTHERS HOW TO DO IT.
BLESS US SO HEAVENLY FATHERS, WE LEAVE THIS PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR THE FATE LEADERS.
AND MOSTLY SO LORD, WE ASK PRAYERS FOR OUR MAYOR.
THIS IS OUR PRAYER IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME.
AND LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY AMEN.