Monday marked the annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day across the USA. The slate of weekend activities hosted by the MLK Commission of Rome/NWGA, which went mostly virtual for this year, culminated with an in person Freedom March in downtown Rome.
Alvin Jackson, organizer of the local march, asserts that marches were King’s way of peacefully protesting racism and promoting unity across color lines.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum. MLK Day has been observed as a federal holiday each year on the third Monday in January since 1986.
Release from Floyd County, GA:
February is recognized as African American History Month across the United States, and Floyd County would like to recognize members of our community who have made an impact. Citizens such as Professor Edward S. Brown, Henry Chubb, members of the 1963 Student Sit-Ins, Elgin Carmichael, Napoleon Fielder, Judy Sims, Samuel Burrell, and the many others who created a legacy of leadership, courage, and citizenship that helped shape Floyd County into the place it is today. Last year’s recipients included Paula Jasper, Bishop Norris K. Allen, Sr., Sarah Dahlice Malone, Rev. Terrell Shields, and the Late Battalion Chief Daniel “Danny” Lee.
We invite the community to help us celebrate African American History Month by nominating Floyd County citizens who continue to serve the greater good. Submissions will be chosen, and those citizens will be recognized by the Floyd County Commission at their 6:00 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Nominations are now being accepted online by visiting www.floydcountyga.gov/nominate. Citizens may also print and mail nomination to the Floyd County Manager’s office, 12 East 4th Avenue, Suite 209, Rome, GA 30161. Deadline to submit is Thursday, February 10, 2022.
For more information, please contact the Floyd County Manager’s office at (706) 291-5111.