GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — The entire nation is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Junior today, and that includes a fraternity here in Grand Rapids.
MLK was a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and Monday, the local chapter held a march in his honor.
“Well, he was a good person,” nine-year-old marcher Taylor Mcghee said.
Even the smallest of feet on the path of the march on Grand Rapids' southeast side know they're here for a big reason.
“His biggest speech was I have a dream. And that was a pretty good speech," Taylor said.
The march was organized to remember Dr. King by his fraternity brothers of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter in Grand Rapids.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Junior was a fraternity brother of ours,” Alpha Phi Alpha Grand Rapids Chapter President Jordoun Eatman said.
The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, saying this type of movement shows they are trying to practice what Dr. King preached.
“King beyond his commercialized aspect of who he is…he was really about the grassroots movement..in the community,” Eatman said.
This was a march that started on Madison Avenue, far away from downtown for a reason.
“Yes, this is the community I grew up in. So it’s good to come back, and be able to serve,” Eatman said.
Jordoun, hoping the message hits closer to home on purpose.
“Knowing this ward, is a majority of black and brown faces…disproportionally was affected with COVID, and other health disparities…including an uptick in violence, its important for us to be in our community,” Eatman said.
