In 2018, residents of south St. Petersburg and some activists expressed concern over the way police "secured" some predominantly African neighborhoods during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.
Last year, CL reported that police shut down some areas to vehicular traffic, including a stretch of 18th Avenue South (more than a dozen blocks south of any events). Activist and community advocate John Muhammad streamed video of his attempt to drive home after attending the MLK Dream Big 2018 Family Fun Day Festival at Tropicana Field.
Police cars appeared to line the streets, and local businesses — as Muhammad noted, Green's Bakery and ATL Barbershop, among others — may have potentially lost out on customers due to a lack of auto traffic.
Now WFTS is reporting that community members are working with Police Chief Anthony Holloway to find solutions and set new guidelines for the upcoming parade set for January 21. Some of the changes include:
- Officers blocking off fewer intersections leading up to the parade, allowing people to more easily get to South St. Pete businesses.
- Officers no longer confronting people about parking, instead responding to complaints only.
- Officers allowing vendors to sell items on private property, as long as those vendors have the consent of the property owners.
“We know we are not going to make everyone happy,” Holloway said, “but we are trying to find that spot in the middle.”
A battle of the bands is set to take place on January 20 at Gibbs High School, and the big show happens with a parade and family fun day on January 21. More information is available via mlkdreambig.com.
This article appears in Jan 17-24, 2019.