The 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March will return to Florence on Monday, January 20, beginning at 10 a.m.
The march will kick off at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Oakland Avenue, where participants are invited to arrive early for refreshments, including coffee and cocoa.
The procession will then make its way along Oakland Avenue, cross the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, and continue to the Performing Arts Center for the closing program.
Councilwoman Lashonda NeSmith Jackson is eager for this year’s event and is hoping for a diverse turnout from the community, including local churches, Greek organizations, and motorcycle clubs.
For Jackson, the return of the march in 2023 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic was deeply emotional.
It marked the first march without three key community leaders who were instrumental in establishing the event: former councilman Ed Robinson (died 2016), longtime city councilman Billy D. Williams (died 2021), and activist Freddie Jolly (died 2020).
This year, Jackson hopes to approach the march with less emotion while honoring the legacy of these leaders, who are profoundly missed by the community.
“This year, we want to make sure everyone has a voice, just as Dr. King did,” Jackson said. “We’re doing this for the community, to honor the past and set the tone for the future.”
The march is a tradition in Florence, and Jackson said she encourages all to join in commemorating Dr. King’s legacy and incorporating his teachings into their daily lives.
or those unable to walk, city buses will ensure everyone can still participate by riding behind the marchers