FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The City of Fresno's annual MLK March kicked off on Monday in downtown Fresno at around 10:00 a.m.  Hundreds of people attended including civil rights activists, community leaders and elected officials, holding signs as they marched from St. John's Cathedral to Fresno City Hall to recognize Dr. King's vision of racial equality and justice.  Participating in the MLK March is a yearly tradition for Fresno County resident Chenena Knox-Ward.  "It's cold out here but it's worth it to bring the family out and to support a great cause," she said. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Knox-Ward wore salmon pink and apple green to the parade. The organization is one of the nine Black sororities and fraternities in the country, also known as the Divine Nine.  She is also with Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Both organizations are dedicated to enriching the lives of African Americans across the country.   She explained why having the opportunity to represent the two groups at the march meant a lot to her family. "It's very important for my kids, for my sorority, for the Divine Nine, and for Jack and Jill. It is more a remembrance of Martin Luther King as far as what he represents, as far as freedom, as far as freedom of speech, and also how far we have come and how far that we have to still go," she said. "It's a beautiful thing just to go here and see all the support, even all different nationalities out here to support. And it's beautiful to just come together how Martin Luther King wanted us to do."   The idea of creating unity is something that resonates with Pastor Edward Thomas with Impact Church. He said, "It's a beautiful thing just to go here and see all the support, even all different nationalities out here to support. And it's beautiful to just come together how Martin Luther King wanted us to do."   Pastor Thomas organized different events leading up to MLK Day, including a march on Sunday to commemorate Dr. King's visit to Fresno in 1964. He believes the entire federal holiday is a chance to move Dr. King's dream forward.   "Dr. King really meant something to our people," he explained. "When he did the 'I Have a Dream' speech. You just stood there, permeating it, making the movement move, making our words move, putting our faith in action. And when we do that, that's when we can see the change that is needed."   In addition to the march, several city and state leaders delivered speeches in front of Fresno City Hall, including Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.  "It is so important that we reflect on our history and that we do not repeat the mistakes of our past," he expressed. "It's also important that we stand together and pledge together to erase prejudice and discrimination within our communities." Mayor Dyer also spoke about the importance of uplifting what Dr. King symbolized. "It feels great to be part of the Martin Luther King March, to be unified with the people from throughout Fresno with the message of One Fresno and to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King for what he stood for. His boldness, his courage, his vision, and that was for equity. And people not to be judged by how they look, but by their heart, by their character," he explained.   The 41st annual march concluded with a commemoration program at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.