Hundreds, if not thousands, of people gathered in downtown Fort Worth on Monday morning to celebrate Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior's birthday.
It started with a parade and ended with a rally at Sundance Square. But the celebration was far more meaningful to those gathered.
"Each year is better and better," said Melinda Hamilton.
Hamilton's enthusiasm was hard to miss along Houston Street on Monday. She's been coming to the Fort Worth MLK Day parade for more than a decade.
"Everybody knows us, we all family, we all family," Hamilton said.
They sat in chairs and stood despite the chilly temperatures.
"It's very cold, I'm shivering my timbers right here," said Christine Griffin.
Griffin was in attendance to watch her daughter march as part of the Eastern Hills High School Band and to honor the late civil rights leader.
"And not just the black community, but every diversity, every community appreciates what he's done," Griffin said.
And perhaps most importantly, they were all there to reach the next generation with Dr. King's words.
"You have to keep it in these young kids' minds," Hamilton said. "Look, all these little, young kids that don't know (about King's legacy)."
That's something those in attendance hoped to change. It's a day, said Tarrant County Commissioner Roy C. Brooks, for the country to re-dedicate itself to King's principles and teachings.
"Opportunity, inclusion, equality and the need to pass those values on to those that are coming behind us," Brooks said.
With plenty of young people in the crowd, the message of social justice and of non-violent protest is something those in attendance hope will last much longer than any parade.
Local elected leaders in attendance said there is still much to do when it comes to fixing social injustices. But that events like today's can help bring people together to fulfill Dr. King's dream.
