NATCHEZ &045; Events will be held throughout the Miss-Lou today to commemorate the birthday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In Natchez, the Adams County chapter of the NAACP will hold its Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, themed &uot;Remember, Celebrate, Act &045; A Day On, Not a Day Off,&uot; starting at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

More than 65 groups, from schools and churches to businesses and community organizations, have signed up to march or ride in the event this year.

&uot;We want to always remember his birthday,&uot; said Katie Ruth Moore, the chapter’s chairperson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.

&uot;He was a great man, and we should appreciate the struggle he led us through.&uot;

Moore is organizing this year’s parade with Nellie Dottery, Darryl Grennell and Jessie Turner.

Groups will start lining up for the parade at 1:30 p.m. on Broadway Street.

The parade will march up Franklin Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Street before disbanding at Minor Street.

In Ferriday, residents will march down Doty Road from Black Bayou to Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church starting at 9 a.m. Monday, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Freddie Schiele.

A service will be held at the church following the march.

The Natchez Association for the Preservation of African-American Culture will hold its annual &uot;I Have a Dream&uot; Youth Banquet at 11 a.m. Monday at the Natchez Convention Center.