This is the schedule of events for Saturday, April 6, 2024:
24TH ANNUAL MLK DAY PARADE
Time and Location - Saturday, April 6th, 12 Noon, downtown Kingsport.
(NEW PARADE ROUTE--- parade starts at East Sullivan Street at East Center Street-- route will now go up Sullivan Street, through the Cherokee Street traffic light, and then left into new City Hall Parking lot)
At 11:15 AM, because of limited parking space this particular year, marchers will park in the two parking lots of the Kingsport City Hall, then walk down Sullivan to the Center Street intersection, which is the beginning of the parade route. The parade along Sullivan Street will then begin at 12 Noon at Sullivan and Center, back along the same route of Sullivan Street (the new route), back up to the City Hall Parking Lots.
The new route on Sullivan Street was designated by parade organizers and the city of Kingsport, to better protect marchers from continuous traffic on Center Street and the adjoining streets. The new route is about 5 blocks long, easier for police to patrol and block off, and also shortens the march time considerably, allowing for more marchers to take part.
This year's theme is "The Answer to Racism is the Love of Christ and Show Love More in 2024."
(See attachment below).
CONTACT: Pastor Ronnie Collins, parade organizer, 423-956-0675
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ANNUAL NEW VISION YOUTH MLK DAY LUNCHEON
Time and Location - Saturday, April 6th, 1 PM, Riverview Community Room, V.O. Dobbins Community Center, Kingsport, Wheatley Street side, beside the pickle ball courts.
Lunch catered by Phil's Dream Pit, meal sponsored by the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and served by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. New Vision Youth member, 7-year old Journey Glauer, Lincoln Elementary School student will be singing her original composition that she wrote, "A Beautiful Song." Community Unity Awards will be given out, also a Trivia Door prize will also be given away.
Contact: Johnnie Mae Swagerty, 423-429-7553.
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ANNUAL NEW VISION YOUTH MLK DAY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
Time and Location - Saturday, April 6th, 6 PM, Shiloh Baptist Church, 712 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport. The guest speaker is student activist 16-year old Tybre Faw of Johnson City, named last year as National Student Ambassador for the '400 Years of African-American History' Commission. Faw was a mentor of the late civil rights pioneer and Georgia congressman John Lewis, who was severely beaten along with dozens of civil rights marchers as he led them across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965. Faw is the National Youth Advisor for the John Lewis Legacy Institute. He was also recently appointed the National Chairman of the "Let Me Read You Your Rights" campaign.
To honor Kingsport civic and municipal organizations including first responders and government leaders, candles of Peace, Love and Unity will be lit by representatives of those groups to further pledge their commitment every day to serve the Kingsport community.
Contact: Johnnie Mae Swagerty, 423-429-7553.
