Locals march to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Published 9:51 am Tuesday, January 17, 2017

The spirit of unity exemplified by Martin Luther King Jr. more than 50 years ago was alive and well in Dowagiac Sunday afternoon, as a group of men and women joined together to celebrate the day named in honor of the famed civil rights leader.

Bolstered by the clear skies and mild temperature, parishioners with Dowagiac’s Second Baptist Church were joined by others in the community for their annual Martin Luther King Day march.

Starting at the steps of Dowagiac City Hall, the group of around 20 walked through the city to the Second Baptist Chapel on Paul Street. Once at the chapel, the members of the church held a special service to commemorate the life and times of the historic African-American figure, with youth members Zariah Pulliam, Donald Nash III and Marcus Broadway reciting King’s monumental “I Have a Dream” speech to the audience.