AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one local organization is raising money to install a statue in his honor.

Global Race Unity has spent the past few years fundraising, including Monday during a Martin Luther King Day celebration.

We spoke with some of the leaders there on why this statue is so important.

“We want to keep the life and legacy of Dr. King alive,” said Reverend Dr. Larry Fryer/CEO of Global Race Unity Inc.

Getting closer to their goal, but not quite close enough – yet.

“We’ve been awhile at it, but we are hoping now as we continue to pick up momentum to see that we get this done,” said Fryer.

So far they have $183,000 raised of their $250,000 goal.

It’s been a long process. Gaining traction and giving hope they could have the memorial done in the next few years.

“It’s been over 10 years. It’s slow,” said Fryer. “It shouldn’t be and we are encouraging people to please donate.”

So they offer opportunities to donate at events and celebrations across the CSRA like the one at Abeline Church.

Once all of the money is raised, Global Race Unity plans on placing the Martin Luther King Jr. statue close to 10th and broad near the Augusta welcome sign.

“Not only are we looking to keep his life and legacy alive, but we also want to encourage people about the importance of being there for each other, about being educated about the things that are positive in our community where we have had a lot of death and violence,” said Fryer.

Having a consistent reminder of where we came from and who we could be.

“By having Dr. King’s life and legacy before all of us, it keeps it alive, even for young people who don’t even know who he was,” said Fryer.

For more information on how to donate to Global Race Unity visit their website here.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are once again being celebrated across the nation today.

The civil rights icon is the only non-president with a federal holiday named in his honor.

On Monday, we learned the Lucy Craft Laney Museum is working to teach that history.

King was assassinated in April of 1968 when he was just 39 years old. He would be turning 96 this month.

King’s home congregation was in Atlanta – and just a few hours away, Augusta is full of history and ties to MLK as well.

History – we’re surrounded by it.

“One of the great things about Augusta is that we have a long legacy of civil rights here,” said Corey Rogers, a historian at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.

Names like reverend C.S. Hamilton and Lucy Craft Laney. Then there’s one name connected to Augusta in more ways than one.

“His entire family would often come here to Augusta for different Baptist conventions and different conferences that were being held here,” said Rogers.

Growing up, Dr. King and his family would stay at the Bohler House on Phillips Steet.

Far from his last stay here.

“Dr. King came here in 1962 with other civil rights leaders like Wyatt Walker, and they came here to talk about voter registration and voter education,” said Rogers.

Fast forward six years later.

“His return trip was geared around the second march on Washington, which was being framed as the poor people’s march,” said Rogers. “So he was crisscrossing Georgia, rallying people. Rallying the grassroots, getting them ready for this second march on Washington. Unfortunately, about a week and a half after leaving Augusta, he would be assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.”

Times have changed since – but one thing remains constant.

“Connecting people with their civil rights roots, telling them about the richness of Augusta and how the students at Paine College, the preachers in Augusta, the students from Augusta, came together and affected change in our city,” said Rogers.

Ensuring generations to come remember those who came before.

“It’s incumbent upon us to dig a little bit deeper,” said Corey Rogers, a historian at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. “Find out those connections between Dr. King and other civil rights leaders in those respective towns and share those stories because everybody, every town, every city has a very unique story to tell as it relates to civil rights and Dr. King.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

Ever since earlier this month, Georgians have been worried about another winter storm coming in. The forecasts are not looking favorable in this respect.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch on Monday for most of the central and southern Georgia areas. It will go into effect Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

How much snow will Georgia get?

Snowfall projections are varied depending on where you live. In the Atlanta and Athens area, there’s a 40% chance of snow Tuesday after 1 p.m. with less than half an inch accumulation.

Millennials: Four Georgia cities among the top 20 attracting millennials. Here’s where they are in GA

In Macon, there’s a chance of flurries before 11 a.m. Tuesday then snow is likely after 4 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60% with less than half an inch of snow accumulation.

Savannah is looking at snow and sleet Tuesday, becoming all snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% with 1-2 inches of snow accumulation. There’s also a 30% chance of snow showers on Wednesday before 10 a.m.

Will Georgia get ice?

Current ice accumulation maps by NWS indicate the major concern is in the south with less than one-tenth inch in the Albany area, up to 0.25 inches in the Valdosta and Savannah areas.

Will it freeze in Georgia?

While areas like Augusta have not been issued a winter storm watch, whether snow or ice is expected, freezing or near-freezing conditions are practically everywhere. Here’s a look at some of the incoming temperatures:

• Athens: Tuesday high of 37 degrees, low of 17 degrees. Wednesday high of 38, low of 18.
• Atlanta: Tuesday high of 34 degrees, low of 16 degrees. Wednesday high of 36, low of 21.
• Augusta: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 22 degrees. Wednesday high of 38, low of 20.
• Macon: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 19 degrees. Wednesday high of 41, low of 19.
• Savannah: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 27 degrees. Wednesday high of 37, low of 25.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.