Decades on, King inspires
More than 41 years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and nearly 37 years after his assassination, his message still resonates.
On Monday, that message reached listeners old and new at the King remembrance ceremony in River Park Square as the Rev. Percy “Happy” Watkins delivered his stirring rendition of King’s words. Watkins, of the New Hope Baptist Church, also recites the speech at various venues on and around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Watkins stood before a crowd of adults and children in River Park Square’s main entrance, captivating them through King’s words as if they were his own. This year marked the 20th year Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been recognized as a national holiday.
The theme of the Spokane celebration – which also included a community resource fair – was, “A Day On, Not A Day Off.” Austin DePaolo, director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, said the organization also is emphasizing “passing the dream to our youth.”
Ron and Sarah Malm of Spokane are doing just that. The young couple brought their three children to the celebration.
“We just got done reading a biography of Martin Luther King,” said Sarah Malm, 29, who attended with Ron, 33, and Caleb, 9, Eli, 6, and Paige, 4. “I wanted them to have the sense of the commitment he made.”
The Malms were among those who participated in the annual march through downtown Spokane, a tradition inspired by the historic marches King led during the civil rights movement. Despite the cold rain that caused the streets and sidewalks to ice up, about 500 people marched, Spokane Police estimated.
“Given the weather, the turnout is exceptional,” said Raymond Reyes, vice president for diversity at Gonzaga University. “It’s a testimony that even with things like the weather … the dream transcends reality.”
Reyes also was among those who addressed the crowd prior to the march. He spoke about a three-dimensional love for God, self and others.
“Martin Luther King taught that God-love is a seed of contemplation as we march the spirit of our community. Martin Luther King taught that self-love is the development of one’s skills, gifts and talents.
“Martin Luther King taught that relationship with others is the temple where we learn about and from the many faces of God and his active presence in our social life,” Reyes said.
The resource fair featured nonprofit agencies that set up booths throughout the mall. DePaolo said the number increased from 60 to 80 this year. A Michael Anderson Memorial Fund was among the new booths. The organization is raising money for a Michael Anderson statue that will be erected at a new science center that also is in the works. Lt. Col. Anderson, an astronaut from Cheney, died when the space shuttle Columbia exploded in 2003.
“We’re trying to raise awareness,” said Dorothy Webster, who co-chairs the foundation. “This is an opportune time to remember Martin Luther King’s dream. Michael Anderson is keeping the dream alive.”