Yuma NAACP #1016 hosts annual Martin Luther King Jr. Walk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Community walked together at this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Walk held by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
The walk started at City Hall at 11:00am Monday and went all the way to the MLK Youth Center.
The walk has been held in Yuma for over 30 years, giving locals a chance to reflect on racial equality and the social change brought by Dr. King.
"I’m very excited, I’m ready to go," said Margarita Keath, a Yuma local.
Yuma locals share way it's critical to take part in these walks.
"He was for freedom, voting rights, for human rights… and that is so important, we can not lose that," Keath expressed.
"It just reminds us that we still have to fight for our civil rights," said Karen Watts, a member of the NAACP.
Dozens of locals took to the streets, including Yuma Police Department (YPD) Chief Thomas Garrity.
"And being part of this, we are a unified community and we will support each other no matter what," Garrity spoke.
After the walk, they held a celebration with guest speaker Sharon Tubbs, who is a Yuma High School graduate.
"24 hours in a day equates to 1,140 minutes and 86,400 seconds. That what we all get in the day, you can make a difference where ever you are...Let’s make up in our minds, to stay motivated, to keep the movement of Dr. King’s dream alive, through what? Action," Tubbs remarked.
The NAACP is grateful for everyone who was able to come out and they hope even more people come out next year.
