Originally published Monday, January 18, 2010 at 5:08 PM
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In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a crowd estimated to be 600 to 1,000 strong rallied at Seattle's Garfield High School on Monday morning before marching to the Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle.
It has been billed as one of the nation's longest-running marches in honor of the slain civil-rights leader — 28 consecutive years and counting. It's also the region's largest dedication to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to those behind it.
But one by one, organizers of Monday's event in Seattle reiterated that the numbers and records aren't as important as the message — that giving back and contributing to society are the real bragging rights here.
"The best way to pay tribute is to get involved in the community," said Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, chair of the MLK Celebration Committee. "You have to get involved in your school, community, church, workplace. There is no greater way to pay tribute."
A crowd estimated to be 600 to 1,000 strong rallied at Garfield High School on Monday morning before marching at noon to the Jackson Federal Building on Second Avenue in downtown Seattle.
But before all the pageantry, in a quieter setting, organizers held 20 community workshops with titles such as "Recruiting Mentors to Save a Generation," "HIV in the Black Community: Prevention & Education" and "Community Building."
"We wanted to give them [participants] an outlet to get information and to be inspired" to give back, said Lem Charleston, Program Committee Chair of Seattle's MLK Celebration.
The workshops echoed this year's theme: "Justice Now! Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Education!"
Later, at the rally inside the school gym, the crowd overflowed into the hallway, with many spectators watching from a monitor in another room.
Many participants were local labor-union members, anti-war protesters, African Americans and other minorities.
"Look," Charleston said, "there are so many teens out there. They outnumber the rest of us, which is beautiful. That's what you want to see."
Lester Taylor, 55, a Garfield High graduate, class of 1972, has participated in most of these marches, taking his three children, his girlfriend's children and the neighbors' children, too.
"And I make them march the whole route, too," he said. They need to know what the civil-rights movement was about, what King was about, he said.
Nearby stood Lafect Campbell, 52, an immigrant from Panama who has participated in most of the King Day marches over the past decade. He moved to the United States 17 years ago, too late to witness the racial conflict and tensions of the civil-rights era in his new homeland. But a lot of ethnic groups can relate to racism and feeling different, and the "ideas that King represents — truth and justice — are universal," he said.
Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leaning on a lectern. (Circa 1964) On Sunday, at a Bapist church originally founded by freed slaves, US President Barack Obama addressed the congregation about the "Dream" of slain civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—whom Obama credits with paving the way for his 2008 election—and about the importance of hope and faith in his own life.

On Monday, Obama, with his family in tow, served hot lunches at a local Washington soup kitchen—one of several ways America's first black president planned to pay tribute to the late Dr. King on the federal holiday that honors his legacy and lasting impact upon society. 

Later at the White House, Obama will host a gathering consisting of small selected group of African-American seniors and their grandchildren where they will discuss the meaning of the civil rights movement and how it still effects them to this day. Following which, that evening, the Obamas are slated to attend the "Let Freedom Ring" concert at the Kennedy Center. A musical event that will feature gospel artists and choir members from various area churches among other houses of worship.

Another prominent American politician, governor-elect of New Jersey, Chris Christie held a banquet on Monday evening to honor the importance of Dr. King's message as well.  Other commemorations included a march in Seattle where participants rallied for issues in the African-American community.