GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A crowd gathered in downtown Gainesville on Saturday for a march and program commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. The annual event, organized by the Newtown Florist Club, took on additional meaning this year, as marchers expressed concern about current national and local tensions and a sense that King’s message remains urgent.
Faith at the Center
Organizers opened the event with prayers from three local pastors, setting a religious tone that continued through group singing, performances by a women’s ensemble, and a poetry reading by a young man. Themes in the music and readings appealed to God to reach into the city, emphasizing faith, unity, and resilience.
Following the ceremony, participants marched approximately 2 miles from Peach State Bank to the Butler Center in downtown Gainesville…