ORANGE, Texas — Hundreds came out in Orange to celebrate MLK Day with a march hosted by the NAACP.
Orange community members gathered at Salem United Methodist Church to march one mile to Riverfront Pavilion as a united front.
"This March is not just about Martin Luther King, or just the African American race. It's about all of us," said Orange NAACP Vice President Terrie Salter.
The march itself represents standing together despite different backgrounds.
"It's about what it stands for and that's justice. Equality for all, all races," Salter said.
This year's crowd was the most diverse group of people, according to Salter.
“Was truly my prayer this year that we have more people diverse. All ethnicities. Because we want to showcase if we're gonna have a march and really be united and stand together. We all need to come together," she said.
The diverse crowd represents the unity Dr. Martin Luther King fought for.
"Dr. King taught us. Several things. One is to love each other no matter what color," said Orange County Voter Registrar Deborah Bednar.
Bednar says Dr. King encouraged people to be active in their communities. So today she helped sign people up to vote.
"But then he also told us to show up, participate, and communicate. And the best way we can do that in 2024 is to come out and vote," Bednar said.
Salter says in 2024, we are all one step closer to Dr. King's dream.
“We’re moving forward but we have stepped back a little bit at times. But that's why we do this. In remembrance of what he did and why he fought. You know the great leaders Rosa Parks. She sat on that bus so that we could move forward. He marched so we could move forward. All these wonderful great people. So we have to just keep striving until we get there," Salter said.
At the pavilion West Orange Stark High School choir sang, NAACP organizers spoke and Dr. King's famous I Have A Dream speech was recited.
"We will be able to work together, to play together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together," the speech said.
Everyone was reminded of the civil rights Dr. King died fighting for.
"It's almost gonna be like we're having church, before its all said and done. We're gonna praise the Lord. But in the mist of it we're gonna give Dr. Martin Luther King his honor and his glory also. Thanking him for what he's done for us," said NAACP Orange President John Jefferson.