Standing on Franklin Street with her son and fiance, watching

bands and ROTC cadets march past, Edna Byrd couldn’t help but

remember another Natchez march that took place more than 30 years

ago.

&uot;It was the year before he died, that I&160;marched with

Dr. King down what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Street and met

him and went to jail with him,&uot;&160;Byrd said, watching

Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. parade in downtown Natchez.

That, said Byrd, is why she makes it a point to come every

year to the parade, which is sponsored by Natchez-Adams County’s

NAACP chapter. And she brings son Garry, 9, with her &uot;because

children should be here so they can see where we’ve come from.&uot;

The parade, which lasted about 25 minutes, was led by police

cars, fire trucks and the cars of NAACP and government officials

and other community leaders. They showered handfuls of candy on

the groups of family and friends that lined Franklin Street between

Broadway and Commerce streets. Other highlights included bands

from Natchez High and Natchez Middle schools, Natchez High ROTC

cadets; floats and vehicles representing local schools, clubs

and businesses; and the Too Hot to Trot riding club.

Up Franklin Street, Spencer Sylvester, 76, held the hand of

his 1-year-old great-grandson, pointing to draw the toddler’s

attention to the floats.

&uot;Dr. King stood for freedom for all people — not just

black people, but white people, too,&uot;&160;Sylvester said.

&uot;He joined people closer together. And black people can now

work places we couldn’t even walk into in the past.&uot;

Former Chicago resident Faye Bonner expressed hope that King’s

dream of cooperation across racial lines will be realized even

more in the future.

&uot;Hopefully, everyone will be able to get along better

in the future,&uot; Bonner said. &uot;We’re on the right track,

I&160;think, but we have a long way to go.&uot;

That is what King gave his life for, Sylvester said. In his

words, King &uot;died so we could have a better day.&uot;