ORLANDO, Fla. — People in Orlando are honoring the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom with a satellite march Friday evening.

The commitment march took place hours after the D.C. march, since many cannot attend that one because of coronavirus restrictions. Satellite marches are happening across the country Friday.

“We’re calling people to action,” said organizer Lawanna Gelzer, president of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Action Network. “We’re calling you to come, show, get your marching orders.”

“We’re in a climate in America today that people need to understand, police brutality is real,” she added. “You can see it in front of you.”

Gelzer says people only have to look three weeks ago to the killing of Salaythis Melvin. The 22-year-old man was running away when an Orange County deputy shot him in the back, claiming he thought Melvin was going to shoot him because he had a gun in his hand. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the use of force.

Melvin’s family was invited to the march, according to Gelzer, as were other local families who lost loved ones at the hands of law enforcement.

“I cried the entire time, you know just the side swipe of a tear. It is heavy,” activist Amanda Rosario said. “I am hurting. The community is hurting. Let's all hurt together, and hopefully people will see that and be responsive to it. And that can cause a conversation for policy change, something like that”

Marchers listened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech before heading down South Street and Division Avenue. 

“As Martin Luther King said so many years ago, there is a blank check that basically America bounced and we are here to remind everybody that a debt is still owed,” said Aston Mac, the founder of Orlando Freedom Fighters.