SALISBURY — More than a dozen children and adults gathered at the 10Thread community workspace on South Fulton Street Wednesday evening to make signs for Saturday’s “March for Love” in downtown Salisbury.

They folded and cut poster board and used multi-colored markers to write phrases such as “Love Brings Joy,” “We Are All Human” and “Love Opens Hearts.”

The public is being invited to Saturday’s peaceful march, billed by organizers as offering residents a chance to come together in love, unity and a celebration of diversity. It is among several “love” demonstrations happening statewide Saturday.

Salisbury’s March for Love will begin at noon at 270 W. Fisher St., across from the Rowan Public Library, and participants will march around the block bounded by South Jackson, West Fisher, South Church and West Innes streets.

Positive signs and banners are encouraged. The event is expected to last about an hour. There will be a welcome by the organizers and an original song by Destiny Stone and Mia Shuster, members of Catawba College’s Black Student Union.

After the march, the event will end with a reflection and brief closing remarks by Dr. Regina Dancy of Hood Theological Seminary.

Teresa Rowell, a member of the planning committee for the local march, said it is a non-partisan, family friendly event.

“Our community could use this surge of love at this time,” Rowell said in a release from the committee. “Let’s show up and stand in unity for everyone who lives in this great state. Let’s refocus our community away from anger and hate.”

According to organizers, after the recent U.S. presidential election, a white supremacist hate group announced plans to hold an event somewhere in North Carolina on Dec. 3.

In response, concerned citizens have organized peaceful marches, festivals, parades or demonstrations in cities Saturday including Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Mebane, Raleigh and Salisbury.

Salisbury Police will be on hand Saturday and some lanes of travel on the permitted streets will be close for safety reasons.

— Mark Wineka