Jacksonville keeps dream alive with Martin Luther King Jr. march, service

Published 12:29 pm Monday, January 20, 2020

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville residents gathered at the Norman Activity Center near downtown for a Martin Luther King Jr. march and special service.

The federal holiday held on the third Monday in January is largely observed as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background.

Hosted by the Jacksonville Unity Committee, the march began at the Norman Activity Center and ended at Sweet Union Baptist Church. At the church, a special service was held with guest speaker pastor Sedric Moore of St. Paul Church in Jacksonville.

Eloise Williams, 40, said she first attended the march when her grandmother brought her at age 10. “This is part of history, it’s important we keep it going. I march to keep his dream alive and honor my grandmother who brought me for the first time when I was a child,” she said.

King, a preacher and civil rights activist, was assassinated in 1968. The national holiday to honor his life and achievements began in 1986. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal.

He is best known for his “I have a dream” speech in 1963 when he led a march on Washington to promote desegregation in America.

Jacksonville Unity Committee member and event organizer AJ Rose said, “We never need to forget his life and struggle to give us a better future. It is my hope that the young people here will stand up and be the men and women that will make a difference like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”