Despite the forecast of major snow storm Sunday night and Monday morning, organizers say the annual Geneva Dr. Martin Luther King Day observance will go on as planned.
The Finger Lakes reports the partially outdoor event has seen its share of winter weather over the years. “It never disappoints us,” Lucile Mallard, longtime president of the Geneva Chapter of the NAACP, said of the weather. “Cold weather and/or snow always shows up.”
Monday’s events begin with the traditional march from the Public Safety building downtown. the Rev. Colin Pritchard of the Presbyterian Church of Geneva will give the invocation and Geneva Mayor Steve Valentino will provide opening remarks. The march will proceed to City Hall, where there will be a prayer offered by the Rev. Teresa Jackson of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
The memorial service begins at 10:15 at Bicentennial Park on Exchange Street. This year’s theme is “Diversity is Reality — Embrace It!” The Rev. Donald Golden of Mount Olive, president of the Martin Luther King Committee, will deliver welcoming remarks for the celebration. The invocation will be given by Minister Sidney Moore of Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. Lucille Mallard, President of the local chapter of the NAACP, will introduce speaker the Rev. Robert Hoggard of RIT.
Mallard said all NAACP branches in the nation have been asked to celebrate MLK Day with a message about passing “The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.”
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