FARRON: THIS IS THE 33RD YEAR
THAT LEADERS IN RIVIERA BEACH
HAVE PUT ON A MLK CELEBRATION.
THERE'S JUST AS MUCH ENTHUSIASM
IN THE AIR BUT THIS TIME AROUND,
A LOT OF THE ATTENDANCE ARE
BRACING BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST
YEAR THEY'LL HAVE A BLACK MAN AS
PRESIDENT.
FROM THE BANDS TO THE MARCHERS
IT'S ALL WHAT YOU'D EXPECT TO
SEE AT A PARADE.
BUT THE SENITMENT BEHIND THE
SMILES REPRESENTS SO MUCH MORE.
>> I THINK MARTIN LUTHER KING
WOULD BE SMILING BECAUSE OUR
PRESIDENT REALLY WENT OUT WITH A
BANG AND REALLY ASKED US TO COME
TOGETHER AS ONE.
>> NO ONE 40 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS
AGO, EVEN 20 YEARS AGO, NO ONE
KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A BLACK
PRESIDENT SO THAT FACT THAT HE
BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT
IN ITSELF IS HISTORICAL.
FARRON: ARLINGTON SPENCER
BROUGHT HIS SON TO THE PARADE.
HE SAYS MAKING SURE MORE YOUNG
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE
AFRICAN AMERICANS WENT THROUGH
AND THE PRINCIPALS THAT MARTIN
LUTHER KING JUNIOR INSTILLED TO
BRING PROGRESS IS KEY.
>> BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW
THIS THEN YOUR FUTURE WILL BE
LOST IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE
NOW AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
FARRON: LIKE MANY OTHERS IN
ATTENDANCE, HE'S WORRIED ABOUT
THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY'S
INCOMING LEADERSHIP.
BUT THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR WAS
BUILDING BRIDGES FOR A BETTER
FUTURE.
SO LIKE MANY OF THE YOUNGSTERS
IN THE PARADE THEY'RE TAKING IT
IN STRIDE.
>> JUST HIM BEING A BLACK
PRESIDENT ALONE, THAT IN ITSELF
IS A GREAT THING FOR THE
COUNTRY, AND FOR THE NATION AND
FOR THE WORLD.
>> BECAUSE MARTIN LUTHER KING IS
FOREVER, OBAMA IS FOREVER AND
WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN A
PART OF THAT AND BE A PART OF
THIS TODAY.
FARRON:  ALONG WITH THE PARADE
GOING ON THERE WAS ALSO A SENIOR
CITIZEN LUNCHEON AND AWARDS AND
MUSICAL BANQUET.
COUNT ON WPBF TO LET YOU KNOW
ABOUT MORE MLK CELEBRATIONS
HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
REPORTING IN RIVIERA BEACH,
