Well, We Tried to Celebrate Dr. King...

Seattlest headed downtown this morning, latte in hand, to celebrate the legacy of one of our country's greatest Civil Rights leaders. The P-I (God rest its soul) had informed us that the annual MLK Day parade would embark from Westlake Park on 4th and Pine at 10 a.m. and make its way to Seattle Center, so we were more than a little shocked to arrive at quarter til and see a whopping dozen-or-so people gathered. We asked a woman if this was where the parade was gathering, and she said yes. "Is this everyone?" we asked. "No," she said, laughing slightly, "we're just a small group."

We asked another man "Where are all the people at?" "Oh," he said "parade doesn't start til 11. People are just starting to line-up." Got it. So, we stood around for another hour and watched a handful of others show up. Three small dance troupes gathered, a small bevy of bicycle cops, a couple of Seafair Parade Marshalls, some old ladies and Obamaniacs. Where were the clydesdales, we wondered? The marching bands, the charismatic speakers?

Around 11:05, a woman without a microphone or foghorn took to the center of the crowd and announced to a couple of people who could hear her that the parade had been canceled due to low turnout. "I don't want to waste your time or my time," she told us. "But you're welcome to stay here and watch these girls perform if you want to." So, we watched the Zionettes (arguably Seattle's most adorable dance troupe) do their thing. There was a small group of girls in yellow and blue uniforms with pom-poms on their knee-high scocks, another group called the Baby Dangerettes, and a couple of people with a banner that said "Commander-in-Chief Productions Presents the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Parade."

That's it. Hugely disappointed that hardly anyone had shown up to celebrate the legacy of one of the most extraordinary leaders in American history, and with frozen toes, we headed back up the hill to share with you people. There's another event starting right now at Garfield High School, which is supposed to march all the way to the Federal Building. Hopefully they'll have a better turnout.

MLK Day Parade Gathering Two dance troupes gather on opposite ends of the square to prepare for the MLK Day Parade. (KR)

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