Crystal City Police lead a parade of vehicles through Crystal City to Crystal City High School for the ceremony.
About 40 people braved subzero temperatures to attend the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in Crystal City on Jan. 14, said Denise Brown, a member of the Giving Something Back to the Community (G.S.B.T.T.C.) group, which sponsored the event.
“That was fine, considering how cold it was,” she said. “We had about 12 cars in the processional. We went by car because of the cold.”
Sometimes people walk during the annual trek from the First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City in Crystal City to Crystal City High School, but when it’s too cold, people ride in vehicles, like they did this year.
After the procession, a presentation was held in the high school auditorium.
Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms was among those who took part in the processional and attended the program, Brown said.
The presentation featured speaker Dewhitt Bingham of Bloomington, Ill., a 1980 Festus High graduate who wrote a book titled “The Douglass Connection” about the old Douglass Cooperative High School that enrolled Black students during segregation. He also is the Law Enforcement Action in Democracy training facilitator at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center and a clinical assistant professor at Illinois State University.
Dewhitt Lloyd Bingham, a 1980 Festus High School graduate and author of a book about the old Douglass Cooperative High School that enrolled Black students during segregation, was the featured speaker.
Brown said Bingham gave an inspiring talk. “He said if we dream big, we rise together and we all win,” she said. “We also had kids read Martin Luther King Jr. quotes.”
Alvin Riney, the G.S.B.T.T.C. chairman, gave the opening and closing remarks.
Brown said people need to continue working toward King’s mission for equality.
“We still have work to do,” she said. “We like to remind everyone this is a community event, so everyone is invited to attend.”
She said G.S.B.T.T.C. leaders intend to expand their Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in 2025.
“Next year will mark our 30th anniversary, and we hope to make it bigger and better,” she said.
Brown said the MLK Jr. Day celebration organizers appreciated those who participated in this year’s event.
“We thank everyone for their support in spite of the weather,” Brown said. “We want to thank Autumn Ridge Residences (residential home) for donating cookies and hot chocolate.”