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Alachua County Residents Depart For Commemoration Of 1963 March On Washington

Cynthia Chestnut bows her head during a group prayer before the bus departs.
Cynthia Chestnut bows her head during a group prayer before the bus departs.

<i>Sally Williams is one of 67 people to board the bus. </i>

Nancy Jones was born into white privilege.

She remembers the time in America when bathrooms were segregated, people were suppressed with high-pressured hoses and dogs were weapons of oppression.

Even though that was six decades ago, Jones, 50, said she still sees instances of racial injustice.

"When I was born, one of the first things that I learned is God created us all equal, and the Constitution that I learned said the same thing, and I haven't seen that play out," Jones said. "So I want to see that play out in my lifetime; I hope I can."

Jones, a Gainesville resident, is one of 67 people on a weekend-long trip to Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington in 1963.

The Alachua County branch of the NAACP organized the trip, said Cynthia Chestnut, the organization's community outreach coordinator.

At around 3 p.m. Friday, the group left on the 10-hour-long journey in a charter bus from the Walmart on Waldo Road. They expect to arrive back in Gainesville Sunday night, Chestnut said.

Jones said she is looking forward to hearing what people less privileged than she have to say so she can better understand and help them.

Tim Roberts, a 49-year-old Gainesville resident, has seen how far America has progressed, but said there are still improvements to make.

Roberts said the commemoration serves as a benchmark to judge the progression of Civil Rights and is important in continuing the protection of American rights.

"It's a way of making my voice heard along with everyone else who deeply cares about those issues," he said.

Hear the voices of those taking the trip in the audio clips below.

Tim Roberts

Dr. Sally Williams

Nancy Jones

<i>The bus driver fills the bus will all of the participants' luggage. The trip will last from Friday night till Sunday night. (Justin Galicz/WUFT News) </i>

<i>Participants board the charter bus that will drive them 10 hours for the commemoration of the March on Washington. (Justin Galicz/WUFT News) </i>

<i>After waiting in the rain, Nancy Jones and other participants board the charter bus. (Justin Galicz/WUFT News) </i>

<i>Evelyn Foxx addresses the group before they depart for Washington, D.C. (Justin Galicz/WUFT News) </i>

<i>Cynthia Chestnut bows her head during a group prayer before the bus departs. (Justin Galicz/WUFT News)</i>

Justin is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.