Monday's parade honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and makes a call to come together

"There are very few problems which we cannot solve together, and there are very few which any of us can settle by himself."

--President Lyndon B. Johnson

A call for unity will lead the way Monday afternoon in South Apopka when the 14th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade commences at 2 pm.

This year's parade theme is "Together, We Can Make a Difference."

The parade takes the traditional route from 519 South Central Avenue to the John H. Bridges Community Center.

The South Apopka Ministerial Alliance sponsors the event.

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On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis while fighting for a wage increase for garbage workers. His efforts were part of a broader and more sustained initiative, the Poor People's Campaign. King planned on bringing thousands of poor people to Washington, D.C., where they would camp out on the National Mall until Congress passed legislation to eradicate poverty.

King was convinced that poverty needed to become a central focus for the civil rights movement to achieve its goals. With over 43 million people living in poverty in the United States today.

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Unlike many parades, the Apopka MLK follows a path in close proximity to the audience. Instead of a "Main Street" setting, it winds through the community. There are houses on both sides of the street. Neighbors barbecue together, watch the parade and socialize. The streets are narrow, and the spectators can interact.

It's like a massive block party right in the heart of South Apopka.