Unity March in Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn — A march to show unity through the streets of the Hub City.

“I love my city and I love the people who are here.” Jackson resident Karita Golden said.

Saturday dozens gathered to walk the streets to show the world Jackson stands as one.

“With the events going on across the country I feel like this is what we needed,” Jackson native Torrance Robinson said. “A unity march instead of everybody being separate in their own groups.”

“No group of people are the problem so let’s not make a group of people the problem,” Golden said. “Let’s start coming out and having more solutions instead of problems and negative comments.”

City Councilman Johnny Dodd and Mayor Jerry Gist joined marchers and said more events like this need to take place.

“It’s always good to be with your people.” Mayor Gist said. “I appreciate the organizers putting it together where we can do it in a unified way.”

Marchers told WBBJ it’s good to see their leaders marching with them.

“I feel like that’s really good,” Robinson said. “It shows how tight knit Jackson is because in many cities the mayor or the police department don’t even show up and I think it show the unity that we do have.”

After the march there was a short ceremony downtown led by the organizers with food and a voter registration drive.

Saturday’s march has a personal meaning for young siblings Briana and Jakylan Banes.

“I lost my father to violence,” Briana Banes said.

“I heard a lot of things about black lives matter, so I said since people are going to take a stand about black lives matter, I said I should be the one to come since I’m a young black man myself,” Jakylan Banes said.

The young siblings said their father was a victim of violence and they simply want to know one thing.

“Can we all get together and stop the violence?” Briana said.

Organizers say this is just the beginning.

They plan to do a lot more community events and are hoping to build strong role models for the youth in the community.