The cry of "beads...beads...beads!" filled the air along the parade route. But, this wasn't that parade. The message was different -- the message was about a dream. It was the 28th annual M-L-K Drum Major For Justice Parade through the streets of Downtown St. Petersburg.
Bands from across the state and Georgia played for the crowd of thousands. The picture of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was on floats and T-shirts.
One of the parade goers wearing a King T-shirt was retired Pinellas County teacher Ursula Allen. She stressed the importance of the day saying, "It's real important for all our people to see this and remember".
Acey Clarkson brought his family to the event so they could learn more about the true meaning of the day. He said, "King brought us a long way with all the things that he did."
His daughter Ashia echoed his thought. "King had a dream and he spoke it out loud and it came to pass."
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster marched alongside the bands and floats. He greeted people along the route saying, "This parade helps keep King's dream alive." Foster said, "St. Pete celebrates King's life and Legacy" and the city does more than just talk about it, they do it through out the year.
