Abilene’s COVID hangover continues.
With the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Taylor County still unacceptable, much activity was pushed back, restructured, or canceled as of the beginning of 2021.
Monday is usually the day the city celebrates the life and accomplishments of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. We will do it, but not with the traditional bridge march or the evening MLK banquet.
Both events planned for the national holiday have been canceled for 2021.
The march over the East Highway 80 bridge, which was renamed in honor of the king, has a long tradition. Each year the Michael T. Royals family organized the event, which begins at the former Woodson Junior-Senior High School and goes over the bridge west and back to the school grounds.
His father, the late Abilene activist Claudie C. Royal, began the march.
Recent estimates of the crowd were 1,000 or more protesters. The idea is not to march quietly or alone, but to go with someone, maybe a stranger, and talk, sing or sing.
The two west-facing lanes will be closed to traffic by the police, who then closed the two east-facing lanes as the protesters turned.
However, the social element this year is at odds with public health concerns during a pandemic.
It was the decision of the Royals family not to organize this march and the decision of the Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce to cancel the long-running banquet.
But Mayor Anthony Williams told Reporter News that it was his recommendation that they not have those events this year.
All is not lost, however.
An MLK event will be held in the parking lot of the Abilene Convention Center from 1:30 p.m., organized by the Let Us Breathe group.
“We felt we had to do something,” said organizer Shawnte Fleming. She said people felt “trapped in isolation” due to COVID-19. “We wanted to honor Dr. King, but we wanted to adhere to health security measures.”
The third Monday in January 1983 was the day on which the birthday of the murdered civil rights leader was to be celebrated. In 2000, it became a state government holiday in all 50 states.
Fleming said that after the social justice revolution in 2020, “we need this more than ever. Don’t just stay at home or take the day off. We have to exercise our constitutional right.”
This year’s march is likely to have an additional tone of protest after 2020. King led marches and protests, but chose to do so peacefully.
Abilenians are asked to meet at 1am in the Convention Center and have vehicles “decorated” for the day. The vehicles then drive to nearby Stevenson Park.
The reporter news suggested to Williams that the route be over the MLK bridge.
At the park, attendees will be asked to stay in vehicles or remain segregated while they hear brief speeches from Williams, new chief of the Abilene Police Department, Marcus Dudley, and pastor of the Macedonian Baptist Church, Matthew Lubin.
Fleming, born, raised and now employed in Abilene as a surety administrator and private investigator, said this type of event is important as it engages young people and shows them that “Abilene can work together” even during a “very, very unjust time.” which she is experiencing “the whole country.”
It is not a political event, she stressed.
Also on Monday, Abilenians can participate in an MLK Day of Service project at the Food Bank in West Central Texas. The Food Bank is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 5505 North First St.
The event will be billed as a “Dream Drive”.
Monday is a school holiday and a day off for employees in the city and district as well as for many companies.
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