[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish celebrates 30 years of Martin Luther King Day marches

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish celebrates 30 years of Martin Luther King Day marches

The 30th annual Martin Luther King Day parade in St. Bernard Parish
celebrated progress made since its first parish march in the early 1980s,
and expressed optimism about the necessary work still needed. The day also
was a time to remember 150 years of civil rights milestones.

 "We are not where we want to be at, but we are not where we were," said
Alice Turner, one of about 75 members of the newly formed St. Bernard
chapter of the NAACP. "Time, time, time. it all comes with time."

"Our main goal is to continue the dream in spite of the obstacles and
disappointment," Turner continued. "In spite of it all, we are committed to
keep that dream alive."

Fifty years ago this August, King gave his "I Had a Dream" speech. Five
years later, on April 4, 1968, King was assassinated while standing on the
balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn.

The federal holiday on Monday came the day after President Barack Obama, the
first African-American U.S. president, was sworn into his second term in
office. (Monday's holiday also coincided with Obama's inauguration
ceremonies in Washington, D.C.) It was 150 years ago this month when Lincoln
signed the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery.

 
"This holiday is one day when we walk and march and hold hands, but don't
forget to hold hands tomorrow," said Barbara Manuel, who is the first female
African-American justice of peace in St. Bernard Parish. "This is Monday,
come Tuesday, this will not last unless there is continuation.
"Time, time, time. it all comes with time." - Alice Turner
"Remember, this day did not start this morning, and it does not end today."

St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta, who drove alongside the
precession, said, "I think the old days of St. Bernard are behind us."

The avenue that marchers trotted down Monday, Judge Perez Drive, was named
after parish arch segregationist Leander Perez in 1972. Perez had died in
1969.

Thirty years later, in 1999, the parish rededicated the street to instead
honor District Judge Melvyn Perez, a jurist and civic leader who died that
year. 

Sheriff Jimmy Pohlmann said "clearly the parish is becoming more diverse
and, as the parish changes, we have to change with it."

"And it is days like today that can help take us away from some of the
recent stigmas of racism in the parish," added Pohlmann, who also helped
guide the marchers the two miles north on Monday, from Chalmette High School
to the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center.

Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, St. Bernard has been the subject of a
long-running housing discrimination case due to its denials of mixed-income
and multifamily housing. Both Peralta and Pohlmann came to office last year
pledging better relations with the parish's African-American community.

The national holiday is held on the third Monday of each year, around King's
Jan. 15 birthday. King was born in 1929 and died in 1968.

To watch a video of the 2009 MLK Day march in St. Bernard, click here.
http://videos.nola.com/nola/2009/01/st_bernard_parish_celebrates_o.html