Linebacker Ray Lewis began his half-hour Hall of Fame induction-cum-motivational hype speech in Canton, Ohio by shouting: “Baltimore! Baltimore! We in the building, baby!”
It was indicative of the former Raven’s relationship with the city: Lewis played the entirety of his 17-year career here, bringing home two Super Bowls. And while that love affair was tarnished with murder charges in 2000, after which the city and organization stood by him, and his more recent hypocrisy on the anthem protests, after which many did not, the bond between Lewis and Baltimore has remained unbroken.
On Sept. 22, the day before the Ravens play the Denver Broncos at home, where Lewis will receive his Hall of Fame ring in a halftime ceremony, Baltimore will host a parade in Lewis’ honor, Mayor Catherine Pugh announced today.
“We’re excited that Mayor Pugh and the City of Baltimore will hold a parade to honor Ray,” the team’s director of public relations, Patrick Gleason, told Baltimore Fishbowl. “It will certainly be a special occasion for Ray and Ravens fans.”
According a Facebook event, the route will begin at Key Highway and Light Street and end at City Hall, where there will be a fan festival and Pugh and Lewis will deliver remarks.
The team is also holding festivities to celebrate Lewis along Ravens Walk before the Sept. 23 game, Gleason said, and will soon announce more details about other activities.
