Virgin Islanders celebrate legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with marches, rallies in both districts

ST. CROIX — Virgin Islanders of all ages celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday in both districts as marches culminated with rallies featuring keynote speakers.

Hundreds participated in the marches as students, marching bands, youth groups, community organizations, and fraternities and sororities united in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Some students carried signs they made depicting images of King, while other signs included such words and phrases as “freedom,” “equality 4 all,” and “BLM,” an acronym for “Black Lives Matter.”

Social studies students from John H. Woodson Junior High School created posters about the civil rights movement they carried during the march and wrote essays about their dreams. “Even though they haven’t met MLK, it makes them realize that his speech and his movement is still relevant up until today, and we’re still fighting for equal rights in this nation,” Erald Pecson, Woodson eighth grade social studies teacher, said.