MLK celebrations bring community together

MOSES LAKE — The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated in Moses Lake on Monday evening, with people throughout the community gathering for a march and a celebration of life and legacy at the Civic Center.  

One of the attendees, Kathy Gardner, said the day brought back memories of King and what he fought for in his life. 

“He fought for people coming together to love and to be in peace and harmony with one another,” said Gardner. “He was all about unity and so I came to celebrate, to honor and just to share with friends, loved ones and the community about the dream.” 

The Moses Lake Dr. Martin Luther King Committee President, Miranda Bridges, said that it was a great turnout for the day. 

“The event went very well,” said Bridges. “It was meaningful, well-attended and truly reflected the spirit of Dr. King.” 

Marchers walked from the Surf ‘n Slide waterpark through town to the civic center while King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and music played.  

Bridges said one of the most meaningful parts of the celebration every year comes with the reading of the “I Have a Dream” speech, which this year was delivered by Pastor Plasido Lindsey. The speech serves as a reminder to everyone in the community of the goal to push for true equality in the country and to keep Martin Luther King Jr’s dream alive with future generations.  

The celebration held contests in collaboration with Moses Lake School District, a K-3 coloring contest and a fourth- and fifth-grade essay contest. Students were asked to share how they felt they see King’s dream in their daily lives. 

During the ceremony, Pastor Patrick Hamm from Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Spokane, the Master of Ceremonies, said that the celebration was a true testament to King’s dream being alive today, as there were people from all walks of life in attendance. Hamm compared it to Biblical scriptures, where it says that in heaven all of God’s children will be there.  

“This is what Dr. King envisioned: people from all walks of life going together,” said Bridges. “Seeing that diversity in the room reminded me that the dream is still alive when we choose to stand together.”  

Gardner said events such as the one held in Moses Lake on Monday evening is very important to the vision that King had, as it brought everyone together. 

“It’s about everybody coming together to encourage each other, to love each other and just to see how everybody’s doing,” she said. “It’s all about sharing love and I enjoy doing that. I’m really lifted up; I’m encouraged when I’m here and I feel like the dream comes alive again.” 

The committee also sponsored a dinner Saturday at The Garden, as it was an opportunity for people in the community to gather around food and talk and dance together, said Bridges.  

“One of the takeaways from (the dinner) was there were individuals there that had they not come to the dinner, they would not have met somebody else that was in their same community and once they got to talking found out that they shared the same dreams or ideals about things,” she said. 

Martin Luther King Jr Day might have concluded, but Bridges said that the messages shared that day and by King throughout his life are something that should inspire the community year-round. Through volunteer work and working with churches, schools and other local organizations, she hopes the committee can help get more people involved as the community strives toward King’s dream. 

“I think it really just speaks value when we can get the community involved and then everybody can come out and be supportive and learn from one another,” she said. “It’s about learning from one another how we can continue to make his dream happen.” 

Bridges said the best way for people to live King’s dream in their daily lives was highlighted in the speech by Pastor Ron Lewis from Mt. Zion Community Baptist Church in Pendleton, Ore., where he quoted King in saying, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”  

“We need to have love for one another and the more that we can have love for one another and look beyond the faults of individuals, but to see their need, then that can help us where we all can just walk together and we all can understand one another,” said Bridges. 

    Elijah Scott and Ebony Lindsey lead the march to the Civic Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Moses Lake Martin Luther King Committee President Miranda Bridges said that it is important to keep the dream alive with the youth.
  

    A group of citizens in the march holds up signs with quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. Monday evening.
  

    Groff Elementary third-grade teacher Regina Doremus with coloring contest winners Eveah Marque, first, Jax Gonzalez, second, and Eboni Lindsey, third, and Moses Lake Martin Luther King Committee President Miranda Bridges stand together on stage. The whole class was awarded a pizza party for its hard work in the competition.
  

    Kathy Gardner, left, and her goddaughter Tasha Tensley stand together for a photo at the Civic Center auditorium. Gardner said celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr is important to remind everyone what he fought for.
  

    Master of Ceremonies Pastor Patrick Hamm plays the piano and sings during Monday’s celebration.
  

    Pastor Plasido Lindsey gives a short personal speech before reciting Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.