The mood was joyous and celebratory, the weather warm and sunny, and Frederiksted’s King Street was lined Monday morning with marchers celebrating the memory of slain civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The march began in the late morning, growing to a throng, as local schools, community organizations, clubs, unions and private citizens strolled from Claude O. Markoe Elementary School around and down King Street to Buddhoe Park. Flags waved and the big bass drums of St. Croix Central Marching Band beat the air and majorettes performed their routines.
Members of the United Steel Workers, American Federation of Teachers, Our Virgin Islands Labor Union and other unions were among the marchers.
The Central Labor Council of the Virgin Islands, which has been organizing the march for 25 years, had a speaker truck broadcasting some of King’s most famous speeches as it rolled slowly down the road.
Every year the CLC chooses a new theme for the commemoration. This year’s came from King’s quote: “The time is always right to do the right thing.”
Adaina Smith of Alexander Hendrickson Elementary School read one of King’s famous speeches.
Once in the park, there were several musical, literary and cultural performances, from an original poem by Ann Etinoff to the Alfredo Andrews Quadrille Dancers.
The festivities served to showcase how King’s memory and legacy live large in the consciences and consciousness of many, young and old, on St. Croix.
