Three thousand people are taking part in Tulsa's 2013 Martin Luther King Parade.
The parade begins at 11 am at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and John Hope Franklin Blvd.
Participants started arriving hours ahead of time to get ready.
Parade organizer, Fred Jones, said Tulsa's parade is the second largest in the nation, behind Houston. One of the main attractions in this years parade is a 15 by 15 foot balloon of Rosa Parks and MLK Jr.
Besides extravagant floats, there are also dozens of local bands and companies taking part. Bama Companies, Inc. in Tulsa has put together a drum line and dance team.
Forty members are on the team and have been working 3 months to march in the parade. Bama employee, Mike Harris, said it was important to put together a team "to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "
Bama employee, Brittany Thomas, is dancing with the team for a second time this year. She said there are a few reasons she wanted to be in this year's MLK parade, "to get the experience of having everybody out here having a good time and to remember what MLK did for us.”
Governor Mary Fallin released the following statement about Martin Luther King day.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached compassion, love and respect for all mankind. These are enduring principles and values that are just as important today as they have ever been.
Please join me in taking a moment to honor Dr. King and all of those who helped to deliver equal civil rights to all our citizens, and who did so non-violently in the face of tremendous adversity. We are a better nation and a better people for their service and sacrifice.
