ST. PETERSBURG — The 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Vigil packed the Carter G. Woodson Museum with a standing room only crowd last Sun., Jan. 18.
La’Zaire Reese opened the program with the song “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” Manita Moultrie, AKA Academy, welcomed and thanked the standing-room-only crowd for attending. The Prayer For Mankind was delivered by Erica McCallister.
Councilmember Charlie Gerdes, chair of the St. Petersburg City Council, greeted everyone by reflecting on the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his own life. He also expressed his support for the Carter G. Woodson Museum and its vital role as an artistic and cultural medium for St. Petersburg.
Additional musical entertainment was provided by the I Have A Dream Mass Choir under the direction of Dr. K. Bernard Parrott, Valerie Houston, India Welch and Songful Soul Stacy.
As the day transitioned into night, the procession into the gardens was led by Chandler Houston on the saxophone as India Welch, Valerie Houston and Songful Soul Stacy sang “This Little Light of Mine.”
Each individual in the procession was handed a lit candle as they exited the museum and walked to the other side of the gardens. Once everyone was assembled around the circular mini-stage, the group started singing “We Shall Overcome.”
