As Ball State students and Muncie residents marched through the city streets Monday night, they carried candles and sang "We Shall Overcome," reflecting on the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Twenty-six people gathered for Muncie's annual Candlelight March from City Hall to Christ Temple Church, where hundreds more celebrated the civil rights leader in a city-wide program.
Mayor Dan Canan, who helped lead the march, said the turnout was good.
"This (was) a large crowd," Canan said. "Martin Luther King Jr. had a lot of marches in his time. This march shows unity," he said.
During his eight years as Muncie's mayor, Canan said he has always been involved in the march.
While the march usually begins at Muncie Central High School, Canan said he was glad so many showed up to City Hall this year to help celebrate one of America's greatest heroes.
"It symbolizes Dr. King's belief in nonviolence and unity in our community," he said. "I hope that the Muncie community will continue to grow."
Despite the 17-degree weather, freshman Sequoia Rent said she also enjoyed the march.
"I think it's like being part of history," Rent said.
Muncie resident Brad Byers also said the 10-minute walk was a great opportunity for the community to come together and remember King.
While Byers has lived in Muncie for nine years, he said this year was his first time to participate in the candlelight march.
"A nice group of people showed up for the walk," Byers said. "The walk was effective and very enjoyable."
At Christ Temple Church, area pastors, praise dancers and a city-wide choir continued the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration with prayers and songs. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, also spoke to the community.
Wright was recently ranked second in Ebony magazine's list of the 15 greatest black preachers, said Derick Virgil, director of Ball State's Multicultural Center, who also participated in the march.
Rent said she was glad she had the chance to celebrate such a significant figure in history.
"I hope we can get more people to be involved in things like this," she said.
Byers said he also hoped the march and other Martin Luther King Jr. activities would encourage the Ball State and Muncie communities to continue progress.
"I hope for happiness, cooperation and a positive 2004," Byers said.662?6+â-á* h@R**e?%*"--@i-ú-++â-ï!+â-ä-úBD™J-¦+â-ä-¿$|+â-ñ™J-óF]d^
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