(MURFREESBORO)  This Monday's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March here in Murfreesboro has a new route. The noon start time remains the same along with beginning at Central Magnet School, 701 E. Main Street.

19th Annual Parade Coordinator Shawn Brown says, "That's where it changes. The parade leaves Central and heads to MTSU and Middle Tennessee Boulevard, where it goes to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and goes to the Patterson Community Center."

Brown and Murfreesboro NAACP President David Settles will be on WGNS' Action Line from 8:10-9:00AM on MLK Day, this Monday (1/16/2023) to tell about this and other events in the heart of Tennessee. 

The 1.5-mile march begins at noon at Central Magnet School, 701 E. Main Street, and extends to Middle Tennessee Blvd. and then turns south on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., formally Mercury Blvd. The march ends at Patterson Park Community Center. Registration for the 1.5-mile march this Monday begins at 11:00AM and begins precisely at noon.

Parade Coordinator Brown noted, "This a great opportunity for our community to march down the street that bears Dr. King's name and to come together and remember a man who fought for social equality and justice."

Murfreesboro City Councilmember and MLK March Committee member Kirt Wade was instrumental in getting Mercury Blvd. renamed in honor of King in 2021.

City Councilmember Wade noted, "Getting the street renamed was only the beginning. There is much more work for us to do to make this historic part of our city resemble King's dream and honor his lifelong work."

The march honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and has grown into one of the largest and now longest marches in Rutherford County. The Murfreesboro Lodge #12 P.H.A. Free and Accepted Masons, City of Murfreesboro, Bridgestone, United Steel Workers, and Free At Last Bail Bonding are sponsoring the march.

After the march, there will be a rally and short program at the Patterson Park pavilion with a reciting of an MLK Speech by high school student DeShawn Rodgers, a prayer, and singing, followed by a Day of Service.

Again, the MLK Parade begins this Monday at noon from the Central Magnet School parking lot.  Tune to WGNS at 8:10AM Monday (1/16/2023) for the broadcast with Murfreesboro NAACP President David Settles and Parade Coordinator Shawn Brown (AM 1450 and FM 101.9 in Murfreesboro and FM 100.5 in Smyrna).