Joplin held their Third Thursday last night, and the event included a Solidarity Walk. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

About 50 people participated in the Solidarity March in downtown Joplin yesterday during the city’s Third Thursday event.

The theme of the occasion was ‘You Belong Here and was celebrated as part of LGBTQ month pride’. Former Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean and current Mayor Pro Tem Kenan Cortez spoke in favor of diversity efforts both in Joplin and the greater Four State area.

“You know we’ve had a lot of strife in our community and our world over the last several years, and we’ve all been able to witness, but I think if we can all sit at a table together and have a conversation, there is not a difference in the world we can’t work out.”

Cortez also voiced his continued support for the Equality, Inclusion, and Diversity declaration, which city leaders adopted two years ago.