They came in droves — groups of three and six and 15, or alone. They were of different ethnicities and from every creed, and they congregated in a one-square-block patch of grass in West Eugene — MLK Park, currently the only landmark in Lane County named after the famed civil rights leader.
Nearly 200 community members including Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, City Councilor David Kelly and Mayor Jim Torrey gathered at the park and marched to the Police and Fire Training Center on West 2nd Avenue to pay tribute on King’s birthday.
“It’s important people take a moment every year to remember the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Sorenson said. “Marching was part of what MLK did.”
Police blocked traffic for the marchers as they made their way north on Chambers Street.
Nine-year-old Cobi Kulent, one of the younger marchers, shivered as he scampered down the street.
“I want to learn about Martin Luther King — to understand more about him,” Kulent said.
Others marched to protest a possible war with Iraq, carrying signs that said King would never support military actions in that country.
The marchers regathered at the training center, where Eugene-Springfield NAACP President Marilyn Mays said King was a “strong and great man of God.”
“His legacy should be a banner … for everyone,” Mays said.
KLCC radio commentator Alan Siporin provided the keynote address, using the opportunity to denounce opponents of affirmative action, hate crimes, “compassionate conservatives” and the Bush administration.
“The civil rights movement continues to move affirmatively,” Siporin said.
Later in the evening, hundreds more streamed to the Hult Center to celebrate King’s message and honor members of the community who follow his ideals. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury gave the keynote address, saying King was a strong proponent for peace whose call for non-violent action still resonates today. King believed in an “army without guns” that could still unite people to pursue a common goal, he said.
“These days, I’m starting to think the world needs a refresher course on Dr. King’s lesson on non-violence,” Bradbury said. He added that King was a staunch critic on the war in Vietnam, despite criticisms from the government, the media and other civil rights activists. He said if King were alive, he would have joined the peace marches that brought thousands to the streets of Washington D.C. and other cities, this past weekend.
“Martin Luther King saw peace abroad as inseparable from civil rights at home,” Bradbury said.
The message of non-violence and peace was prevalent throughout the ceremony. Master of Ceremonies Marc Mullins asked people to have the courage to pursue peace even in their daily lives.
“Changing the world doesn’t have to be a grand-scale project, but it is a challenge,” Mullins said. He urged people to use their words and their voices as tools of change.
Several people who have been working to make a difference in Eugene on issues of diversity were also honored at the celebration including Lane Community College Professor Mark Harris and activist Bahati Ansari, founder of the Racism Free Zone at the Jefferson middle school. Circuit Court Judge Cynthia D. Carlson also received an award from the Eugene Human Rights Commission for her work on creating inter-racial dialogues on race.
Eleven students also received prizes for participating in the 4J Schools’ MLK essay competition. While the students, ranging from elementary school to high school levels, had different messages, their essays had a common theme: how people in this country can be peacefully patriotic.
King’s messages still thrive in many people’s minds today.
“Martin Luther King tried to touch people’s hearts and minds,” Eugene resident Tony Lister said. “That’s where the change really is, not just in marches and demonstrations.” He said MLK Day was probably the first step the country made to recognize the contributions made by black people.