BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Kentuckians across the commonwealth spent Monday honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentuckians spent Monday celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. 

  • This included the Memorial March in Bowling Green, which began at the Warren County Justice Center and stretched for a half-mile 

  • The march has been a Bowling Green tradition for 27 years

  • The march was followed up with a service at the State Street Baptist Church, and included a speech from Chaplain Jeremiah Castillo

A celebration in Bowling Green, which began at the Warren County Justice Center, stretched for about a half-mile walk in downtown as participants braved the bitter cold weather. 

“Rain, shine, snow, we come down here and we march," said Ryan Dearbone, vice chair of the Bowling Green MLK Jr. Planning Committee. 

The Memorial March has been a longtime tradition in Bowling Green, going on for 27 years.

“The dream is about everyone," Dearbone said. "It's about equality; it’s about everybody coming together and being made to feel like they have a seat at the table.”

King was a civil rights leader who called for equality and an end to racial discrimination through nonviolent resistance.

“I’ve got two little girls, and I wanted them to be able to understand how important this day is and how important equality, diversity and love and all these things are," Dearbone said. 

That love brought dozens from all backgrounds out to march.

“If you look around, you see all races, all ages, just a wonderful group of people, and it reflects the Bowling Green community," said participant Harold Little. 

The march was followed with a service at the State Street Baptist Church and included a speech from Chaplain Jeremiah Castillo.

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