Girl Scout Troop 5073 leader Kisha Watford, left, Indiya Reid and others walk on Oak Street in Franklin for the third annual Keeping Unity in the Community Martin Luther King March on Monday. ANDREW FAISON/TIDEWATER NEWS

STAFF REPORT

FRANKLIN—Nearly 200 participated in the third annual Keeping Unity in the Community Martin Luther King March in Franklin on Monday.

Sponsored by Boykins Girl Scout Troop No. 5073, First Baptist Church and Paul D. Camp Community College, the march began at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Participants proceeded along South Street to South College Drive and finished at PDCCC.

Gates Millennium Scholar Roy Boyd Jr., who graduated from Franklin High School in June and attends James Madison University, presented the program entitled “The Power of One.”

“We thank Roy for agreeing to participate in this annual event,” said Troop Leader Kisha Watford.

It was 37 degrees outside when the march began at 9 a.m.

Other participants included Franklin High School girls’ basketball team, YMCA Black Achievers, Franklin Tri-County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Franklin Masonic Lodge No. 288, Franklin Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Franklin/Southampton County Retired Teachers Association, Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter of St. Augustine’s University, Tiger Riders Motorcycle Club of Suffolk, Boykins Neighborhood Outreach Center, First Baptist Church, Franklin Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Franklin/Southampton Order of Eastern Stars, New Image Hair Salon, PDCCC Student Activity Organization, Cover 3 Foundation, and Galilee and Shiloh Baptist churches.

“We hope to have twice as many to participate next year,” Watford said.