Monday, January 19, 2026–1:20 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
On Monday, Rome and Floyd County residents gathered in Downtown Rome to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the annual Freedom March.
The march, which is one if the highlights of the local four-day King celebration, has been going on for 39 years, and Alvin Jackson, co-chair of the local King Commission, has been at every one.
It’s been almost 58 years since Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, and according to Jackson, it’s important to keep his memory alive, especially for the younger generations.
“We don’t want his legacy to die,” Jackson said. “We need everyone to step up because these are trying times. The dream has not been fulfilled yet. We can’t rest on our laurels. We must make sure his legacy continues, and the march was one of the tools he used, and making sure we protested in a non-violent way.”
King’s message of change through non-violent protest and civil disobedience remains as important today as it was then.
“That’s part of the First Amendment—freedom of speech,” Jackson said. “Dr. King preached non-violence and centered his life around non-violence. He spread that word everywhere he went, and this march signifies that, because it gives everyday people the opportunity to participate, to give back to the community, and ensure his legacy lives on.”
The marchers on Monday were from different races and backgrounds.
“It makes me feel good, because these are the people who make up this community,” Jackson said. “We are about unity in the community, and as long as we have this diverse group of people participating in the four-day celebration, it makes me feel good, because it’s my way, and all our ways, of giving back to honor the legacy of Dr. King.”
The march concluded at the Rome City Auditorium, where a noonday program was held, featuring the MLK Community Choir with music, along with messages and a keynote address from State Representative Tanya Miller, who represents the 62nd District under the Gold Dome.
Following the program, a free community luncheon was held at the Rome Civic Center.
