Hundreds of Salem residents gathered Monday afternoon at Seed of Faith Ministries for a Community Celebration and Peace March. They did so to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday and continue his advocacy for peace. That focus is timely as Salem leaders have spent the past year grappling with a rise in shootings and young people involved in deadly violence. The event was a continuation of the Community Violence Reduction Initiative, a collective effort by local law enforcement, community organizations and service providers to curb that trend. Following speeches at the church, participants walked about a mile through the Grant neighborhood together before returning to discuss the experience. Audience members wait for the MLK Peace Walk program to begin at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) The I Love Girl Power dance group begins their routine at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Members of the I Love Girl Power dance group dancing at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Diamond Gaines and Kozzie Leffall of the I Love Girl Power dance group on stage at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Ashley Dunn, vice president of Salem-Keizer NAACP, speaks at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Bishop Wade Harris and Pastor Evelyn McCoy-Harris during an opening prayer at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) The audience listens to RJ Hampton, President of NAACP Salem-Keizer Branch speak at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Bishop Michael Weaver listens to RJ Hampton, President of NAACP Salem-Keizer Branch speak at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) RJ Hampton, president of the Salem-Keizer NAACP, speaks at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Audience members applaud at the end of RJ Hampton’s speech at the MLK Peace Walk program held at the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Marchers in the MLK Peace Walk proceed down Broadway Street in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Oni Marchbanks marched along with some of her 19 grandchildren in the MLK Peace Walk in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Marchers in the MLK Peace Walk proceed down Broadway Street in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Marchers in the MLK Peace Walk proceed down Broadway Street in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Marchers proceed back to the Seed of Faith Ministries in Salem on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected]. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post PHOTOS: Salem celebrates MLK’s legacy with peace walk appeared first on Salem Reporter.