A local non-profit held a march in Downtown Gainesville Saturday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Newtown Florist Club's event drew several community members and other organizations for the annual march through Gainesville, which began at Peach State Bank on E.E. Butler Pkwy, went through Historic Downtown Square , and ended at the Butler Center on Athens St.
Newtown Florist Club member and Social Media Manager Marsha Arendall shared that for her, the march commemorates not only the life of King but also his legacy of promoting unity.
“[Dr. King] always wanted everybody to be on one accord so that we can help equality with not just African Americans, but just for all Americans and all people in general,” Arendall said. “...We are just holding on to his legacy, and what it is he wanted to do, and to look forward to in the future, to continue to do those things for everybody to be equal in one accord.”
Among other groups that marched to show support was Sisters With a Purpose, a Gainesville- based outreach program for female youth at risk. One of the organization’s leaders, Jasmin Gaudlock, shared that the group encouraged those in the program to remember King’s lasting impact.
“We came out to the Martin Luther King event, the march to show that it's meaningful to be positive role models and mentors for the young ladies,” Gaudlock explained. “...We like to show what this means in history and to keep it alive and memorable, especially in the city of Gainesville.”
The march was one of the several events the Newtown Florist Club hosted in the week leading up to the holiday. The group also hosted several Pre-King Day conversations via Facebook Live, which invited panels of local leaders and experts to discuss various social issues impacting the community.
The Newtown Florist Club will also hold an observance program on Monday, Jan. 20, at Antioch Baptist Church at 9:30 a.m.
