On Saturday I marched in tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with several residents from Richmond. I’m honored to have been able to celebrate Dr. King and participate in a very symbolic march about bringing together our communities. The march crossed the territorial lines of North and Central Richmond. Richmond Confidential covered the marches.

From Richmond Confidential:

“We are moving in the direction of breaking down the barriers that separate us,” said Otheree Christian, president of the Iron Triangle Neighborhood Association, “barriers that contribute to unnecessary violence.”

About 200 residents participated in the marches that began at Nevin Community Center in central Richmond and in Parchester Village. The groups converged at Shields-Reid Park in North Richmond, where a procession of speakers including U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) spoke about how the late civil rights leader’s teachings must inform the continued progress of all Richmond’s neighborhoods.

County Supervisor John Gioia, Richmond Mayor Gayle Mclaughlin, local NAACP branch president Ken Nelson and local clergy were among the leaders on hand. The majority of the city’s new professional basketball team, the Richmond Rockets, also joined the march through city streets.

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Miller, who was received with overwhelming good cheer by residents and leaders in North Richmond, sounded his familiar theme of education and upward mobility for youth. He talked about his visit to area schools the day before and what he learned from speaking to children in the community. He said challenges are still unacceptably steep, but that it is this generation’s duty to capitalize on gains made by King and others.

“Martin Luther King was about getting rid of barriers,” Miller said. “Our obligation is to take advantage of the removal of those barriers.”

This was a wonderful way to celebrate Dr. King’s message of unity. Thank you to all of those who participated in the march last Saturday.