By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Thousands of people came out for the annual Annie Malone Parade in St. Louis on Sunday. But for the first time in almost a century, the event was not held on the city's northside.
The parade is a mainstay of St. Louis' African-American community that up till now has always proceeded along Natural Bridge Road. This year, organizers chose to march downtown in hopes of attracting a more diverse crowd.
One marcher, who opted not to give her name, felt the event lost some of its appeal. "When all of us come together, it's just a fun event, and some people feel like they broke that. We're not saying that other races can't come, but, it was one of our vents that's been going on for a long ime.
The parade raises money for troubled children in St. Louis. The new route went from Harris Stowe State University down Market Street, through downtown.
Marcher Misty Dobynes liked the new venue: "Change is not always bad. I think it'll be a safer environment, it's a bigger space, and then I think it's going to be a bigger parade."