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Coco Warner ReportingUtahns today joined in with the rest of the country in honoring the late Martin Luther King Junior. There are several commemorative events scheduled for today to celebrate his life, including a candle light memorial in Provo.
Every year the annual "Walk of Life" has a theme and this year's it's "I am the dream"-- and it's a mantra that many Utahns tried to take to heart today. It is perhaps one of the most famous American speeches of all time, and Salt Lake City's Pastor France Davis was there.
Pastor France Davis, Calvary Baptist Church: "I was just a kid, a teenager caught up in the crowd and excited by all the people."
Pastor Davis has since taken the dream speech to heart and he sees progress, but he'd like to see more.
Pastor France Davis, Calvary Baptist Church :"I believe if Doctor King were here he would appreciate us taking a look again at the issues of equality and fairness in terms of jobs, in terms of political representation, in terms of housing."
Dozens of Utahns gathered this morning to tackle another one of the Reverend's legacies: service. Partnering with several local groups, the Utah Martin Luther King Junior Human Rights Commission sponsored a "Day of Service."
Phyllis Caruth, MLK Commission: “It is a good, a great demonstration of individuals living up to the King philosophy, and that is to serve.”
Volunteers packed and delivered food boxes to Salt Lake City's elderly. And for the 22nd consecutive year, the NAACP of Salt Lake hosted a memorial luncheon where many Utah dignitaries were on hand to pay tribute to Dr. King's dream.
Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.: "Martin Luther King said that when hope dies, the dream ends-- fortunately, the dream lives on."
From the A Capella Choir and the "Tropicaliente Dancers", to Scottish bagpipers and a Polynesian dance group, Murray's Martin Luther King event Monday night had it all.
It's a high-energy celebration of diversity.
Jon Fitisemane/ Murray High Senior: "Everyone is just trying to get their rights. It's good everyone has their rights. Everyone should be free and equal, you know."
Vanessa Garcia/ Murray High Senior: "He changed so much people's minds and how they think and stuff like that. So I really liked the celebration because it means a lot to every one who is different and we're all the same, I guess."
Around the country people celebrated the late Martin Luther King's birthday. In Atlanta, Georgia a huge parade attracted thousands of people. And a commemorative service was held at the church where King was pastor until his assassination in 1968.
At another historic location in Memphis Tennessee, where Dr. King died, patrons lined up to review and honor history with a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.
