THOMASVILLE — Calls for unity and peace rang through the streets of Thomasville Monday night. 

A unity march was conducted with community members and officials participating. 

Led by the Thomas County NAACP chapter, the march was in the wake of Thomas County drug squad agent Josh Smith fatally shooting Herbert Gilbert while serving a search warrant two weeks ago. 

The march began on Magnolia Street, where the shooting incident occurred, and ended at the Historic Courthouse. 

Chants of “we want justice,” “we want peace,” “we want unity,” among others, rang through the march’s route toward downtown Thomasville. 

Thomasville Police Department blocked off portions of the march’s route as it progressed. 

Once the march reached the Historic Courthouse, local pastors, community leaders and members spoke. 

Sharon Edwards, with the Homeless Coalition, opened with a prayer, and NAACP President Lucinda Brown spoke on justice, peace and unity. 

Speaking first on justice, “that’s just what we want,” Brown said.  

“It does not matter what color we are, what matters is we want justice,” she added. 

Brown also spoke on seeking peace in the wake of the shooting, also leading the crowd in chants of “we are Thomasville.” 

Rev. Jeremy Rich spoke on the day of Aug. 28 being “rich in history.” 

Rich referenced notable Aug. 28 events such as the death of Emmett Till and former President Barack Obama accepting the democratic nomination in 2008, among others. 

“This day has a lot of history to it,” he said. 

Pastor Jaime Nunnally spoke on racial reconciliation. 

“It’s time for us to replace ‘I love you, but,’ with ‘I love you, period,’” he said. 

Nunnally also called for unity between the black and white communities, addressing the “very real history” of injustice. 

“It’s time to do something,” he said. “This is a good beginning.” 

“The only thing that should be separated by color is laundry,” he added, also conducting a prayer for unity among all races and forgiveness for injustice done to the black community by the white community. 

Tyree Brown, Lucinda Brown’s son, spoke on numerous issues, including a “long train of abuses” he felt was done by the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office. 

“This is about right and wrong; this is a moral issue,” he said. 

Brown also spoke on Gilbert being a “victim of his circumstance,” and the importance of voting in local elections. 

“If you don’t vote, nothing you say and do won’t matter,” he noted. 

Others spoke on the importance of unity within a community. 

Along with a variety of speakers, a candlelight vigil also was conducted. Rev. Quinn Choice called for Gilbert’s family to begin the candle lighting “because we feel that the light should come from them.” 

A portion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech also was played for attendees, as Monday marked the 54th anniversary of Dr. King’s speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 

 Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.