Photo Gallery: Athens' First MLK Day Parade

January 17, 2017

Photo Gallery: Athens' First MLK Day Parade

By Blake Aued and Joshua L. Jones | January 17, 2017 12:52pm

Former R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe speaks with parade organizer Mokah Jasmine Johnson after the Athens in Harmony concert at the 40 Watt Club Monday night.

Athens' first-ever Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade drew several thousand people downtown on Monday to enjoy not only marching bands and classic cars, but food trucks, kids' activities, live music and more. Flagpole photographer Joshua L. Jones was there to capture the event. [Blake Aued]

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson hugs Johnson after reading a proclamation in honor of MLK Day.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Immigrants' rights activist Beto Mendoza marches in the parade.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Bennie Watson sits in his 1956 Ford Victoria waiting for the parade to start. "I like this, they should have been doing this parade for years. I've travel out of town to a in the past for similar parades on MLK's birthday, but it's great Athens is having it this year," said Watson.