Hundreds gather to honor Orlando’s first Black city council member

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By Chantelle Navarro

ORLANDO, Fla. — People in Central Florida are remembering more than one civil rights leader on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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Hundreds of people gathered in Orlando on Monday to honor Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy, Orlando’s first Black city council member. He took the oath in 1973.

READ: City of Ocoee to hold Martin Luther King Jr. parade Monday

The event has been going on for more than 30 years, but Monday marked the first in-person gathering since the pandemic.

Honoring Kennedy’s advocacy work for higher education, scholarships in partnership with the YMCA, Southwest Orlando Jaycees and the City of Orlando MLK Commission were distributed.

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PHOTOS: City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration The City of Ocoee’s 15th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration took place Monday. (wftv.com)

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