Rev. C.T. Vivian to speak to Newtown gala

GAINESVILLE - The Newtown Florist Club celebrates its 55th anniversary Saturday night in Gainesville with a featured speaker who was a key figure in the civil rights movement.

Rev. C.T. Vivian is described as a "living legend of the civil rights movement and a personal friend of the late Martin Luther King Junior."

Rev. Vivian became active in the civil rights movement in 1947 when he began actively opposing segregation.

The theme of this year's Newtown celebration is "Empowering Our Youth: Building a Legacy of Leadership."

The Newtown Florist Club is a civil rights and environmental justic organization.