Heavy Rains Soak King Week Parade

Spectators were as concerned with shelter as they were with a clear view as heavy rains soaked the King Week ‘95 kickoff parade on Saturday.

People huddled under porches, squeezed into bus stop shelters and hunched under umbrellas to watch the National Parade of Celebration honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

From the covered VIP viewing stands across from the King Center, Coretta Scott King, other family members and dignitaries watched waterlogged marching bands, floats and equestrian units move along the 1.8-mile route.

“The weather just killed it,” said special operations Maj. Richard Davis of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, who estimated the crowd at about 3,000 to 4,000 people.

Last year, 25,000 spectators turned out in cold but dry weather to watch the parade.