Celebrations span Sarasota for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Ian Swaby
| 3:30 p.m. January 15, 2024

Booker High School cheerleaders bring their enthusiasm to the walk.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Rev. Wesley Tunstall, Jr. called it an “honor and a privilege” to help lead the way as a drum major during the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk on Jan. 15.

Held the morning of Jan. 15, the walk one of Sarasota’s major celebrations held on Martin Luther King. Jr. Day, which also included the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Community Awards held before the walk at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, where the walk began, and the MLK Music Fest, held at Martin Luther King. Jr. Memorial Park, where the walk ended.

What was a much smaller deal for Tunstall, and other participants, was the downpour of rain that took place along the way to the park.

“We have come so far,” Tunstall said. “If that’s the worst we can think of — the rain — after the hard tribulation and all that we have been through, the struggle that Blacks have been through, the rain is just a piece of cake.”

As the rain briefly came in droves, walkers unfurled umbrellas and continued on.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Community Awards, hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies Jessika Ward, recognized some of the major achievements by various organizations on behalf of the Black community.

“We definitely like to recognize organizations that are really working with the youth, working with underserved communities, and being a part of the fabric of this beautiful country of the United States," said event organizer and Martin Luther King Celebration Committee chairperson Jetson Grimes.

Among the award recipients was Aliciana Harvey-Lopez, a senior at Pine View School, who received the Youth Emerging Leader award.

“This honor is not just a recognition of my individual efforts, but a testament to the enduring spirit of community, collaboration and change that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. championed throughout his life," she said.

After the walk came to an end at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, the site of the MLK Music Fest, the public came together as local performers took to the stage, and organizations like Learn My History and CenterPlace Health shared their offerings with the community.

Rev. Patrick Miller and Rev. Wesley Tunstall Jr. at the intersection of N. Osprey Ave. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

Rev. Dr. John W. Walker, Jr., played the saxophone at the awards ceremony as well as at MLK Music Fest.

Former Sarasota mayor Willie Charles Shaw; police sergeant Dominic Harris, founder of Brotherhood of Men; Aliciana Harvey-Lopez, Youth Emerging Leader award recipient; Angie Stringer, CEO of Girls Inc.; Dr. Melvin Price, CEO and president of MCR Health; Edna Sherrell, lead teacher at Manasota ASALH; David Wilkins, president of Manasota ASALH; Mistress of Ceremonies Jessika Ward; and event organizer Jetson Grimes.

Madysyn Sorey, 6, Latisha Sorey and Jermonie Steen, 3, were among those who headed outside to watch the walk.

Booker High School JROTC students help lead the walk, as it leaves

Debra Harvey and Rhonda Calahan at the awards ceremony.

Former Sarasota mayor Willie Charles Shaw waves to viewers of the walk.

Zachary Anderson, 6, Nevaeh Anderson, 5, and Bianca Flores walk through the rain.

Eva Williams-White staffed a fruit stand outside the auditorium of the awards ceremony, part of the breakfast offerings that were available.

Nurisha Harvey; her daughter Aliciana Harvey-Lopez, recipient of the Emerging Youth Leader Award and her mother Karimu Hill-Harvey.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.