Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Broward County School Board chairperson and president /CEO Mount Olive Development Corporation: “Martin Luther King Day 2016 was a great time of unity in the community where we really went in another direction with the parade route in an attempt to create greater diversity and greater unity. What was remarkable to me is the young people that I was able to look as the Chairperson of the School Board, all of the awesome students from the Broward County Schools and our charter schools that participated in the parade today were able to see true community, true diversity and able to learn about Dr. King and his legacy of service.”
Yvette Weatherspoon, Dillard High School reading and English teacher: “It was important today to just recognize that Dr. Martin Luther King had sacrificed his life so that we could be able to celebrate together, that we could have access to education, that we could access all of what it means to be an American citizen. So every year I make sure that my three young Black males in the household attend the parade so we can carry this on from generation to generation.”
Jocelyn Carter-Miller, president of The League of Women Voters of Broward County: “Today is an important and historical commemoration of one of the greatest leaders of our country, of this world and for African Americans, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This day is so important for us, especially the League of Women Voters, because the Civil Rights Struggle, the need for Blacks to be able to vote is just incredible. And all these people working together has made that possible. People died for us to vote, people fought for us to vote, and now we’re here registering people to vote. It’s a very fulfilling experience.”
Carolyn Weaver, celebrated her birthday at the MLK Parade and was on hand with her family: “Today is a great day. Dr. King made a way for all of us – Black people, white people, everyone – the whole nation of people.”
Elijah Manley, 16, a junior at Fort Lauderdale High School, is the youngest candidate running for the office of President of the United States. “Martin Luther King is a hero to me. He fought for equality and justice for everybody for all races and all ethnicities. To me, Martin Luther King was not just a hero but he’s an icon for American youth. Black Lives Matter, Green Party of Florida, and the Continental Youth Assembly, the National Youth Rights Association, and the Alliance Against Corporal Punishment.”
Wayne Alexander, Board Chairman for the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee: “Today means quite a bit. We did this with a lot of trepidation, a lot of ridicule and negative comments but we felt it was time to make a change. We needed to take the Dr. King Holiday to the next level in Fort Lauderdale. We took a chance and I believe it’s paying off and hopefully we’ll make a determination on what we’re going to do next year and how we’re going to make it bigger and better.”
Commissioner Dale Holness, Broward County Commissioner District 9: “Today is probably one of the most significant days of the year for me and people of color, for all Americans. Dr. King was one of the greatest men to ever walk this earth. Dr. Martin Luther King did some great things to move this country, move this world forward. Many people aren’t aware of what he did internationally not just here but, he had an effect changing racial attitudes and worked for equality for all people no matter where they are or where they’re from. South Africa benefited all over the world; we benefited from his work. We still have a lot of work to do because there’s still injustice in many places. We still have inequality in many areas. Women who do equal work and still don’t get equal pay. There are a lot of African Americans who are targeted and are put in jail because the system is such that it does not allow for us to be all equal. That must change. We must find ways and means of changing the system. What’s most important is the theme of today-United We Achieve the Dream. We have to be united. We have to work together to make this world a better place for everyone.”
Scott Israel, Broward County Sheriff: “My favorite quote of Dr. King of all time is ‘Faith is about taking the first step and not worrying about seeing the staircase’ and I think that Dr. King would be very proud of what the Sheriff’s Office is doing. We’re going into the woods and we’re not following the path that others have carved out. We’re carving out our own path, a path of community relations, a path of keeping kids out of jail not putting kids in jail.”
State Representative Bobby Dubose, District 94: “King Day means to me to whom much is given, much is required. It’s a day about service, also celebration, embracing the past and also looking forward toward the future. Although we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go. But at the end of the day we’re still trying to realize Dr. King’s dream and this is one step in the right direction.”