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The Community Anti-Racism Effort of Rockbridge County (CARE) is once again gearing up to fill the streets of downtown Lexington with its Martin Luther King Jr. Community Parade Monday, Jan. 15, at 10:30 a.m.
The 0.75-mile parade loop starts at 118 S. Randolph St. in Lexington in front of Randolph Street United Methodist Church.
This is the eighth year in a row that CARE has organized a community celebration of King’s legacy. The family friendly event brings out an all-ages diverse crowd, singing, chanting, and bearing signs that testify to their continuing support of nonviolent action for an equal and inclusive community.
“We often hear hateful things said about our fellow Americans, even by national level leaders. But Dr. King famously preached that ‘Returning hate for hate multiplies hate,’ and he counseled us to remember that ‘Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,’” CARE President the Rev. Reginald A. Early said. “We need to remember to uphold this important truth. That is why parade marchers will once again be celebrating the CARE motto - Justice, Love, Equality.”
In past years marchers have numbered around 800.
“We know approximately how many marchers we have, because we can count the stickers that we give to participants,” explained CARE Vice President Robin LeBlanc.
She said that organizers are hoping to see closer to 1,000 people this year.
This has become one of the most important events on the Lexington calendar every year,” LeBlanc said. “It’s just great to know that our little town continues to evolve and to move forward to a bright future where our community is ever more welcoming of diversity.”
CARE is once again working with the Rockbridge Area Transit Service to transport paraders with mobility issues who wish to join the event. Those who would like to arrange for support in advance can contact organizers at [email protected].
Following the parade, all participants can enjoy hot cocoa sponsored by Sweet Treats, and hot soup will be served at Lexington Presbyterian Church.
Parade organizers ask participants to make all signs of crushable materials and to remember that neither weapons of any kind nor any kind of white supremacist symbol should be brought to the parade.
CARE Rockbridge is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
