Florence, South Carolina – The Florence Community Development Agency is getting ready to bring people together again for a long-standing community event that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and work. On Monday, January 19, the agency will conduct the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally. Activities will start at 10 a.m.
The Iola Jones Amphitheater on East Maxwell Street will be the starting point for the march in the morning. Breakfast will be served at the event venue, which will give people time to talk and think before the program officially starts.
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The organizers claim that the meeting site has become a significant place for people in the community to come together in a spirit of remembering and unity.
After the meeting, the march will go through downtown Florence, following a path that shows off the city’s center. People will walk together to the FMU Performing Arts Center on South Dargan Street, where the celebration will move on to the next phase. The march is meant to be open to everyone, so people of all ages and backgrounds can join in.
After the procession gets to the Performing Arts Center, there will be a formal program. Les Echols of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce will give the keynote speech during the event. His remarks are expected to focus on the enduring relevance of Dr. King’s message and the importance of continued community engagement and cooperation.
The march and rally are a time each year to think about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the work that still needs to be done. Organizers want to make it clear that it’s not just about commemorating the past, but also about bringing people together and getting them to talk about their shared beliefs.
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The yearly event has become an important part of life in Florence, bringing people together to remember and work toward a common goal. The celebration continues to reflect the values of unity, service, and hope that guided Dr. King’s life and leadership by bringing people together in shared spaces and activities.