Arts

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream Speech Commemorated In Kiener Plaza

St. Louis Public Radio | By Maria Altman,

Tim Lloyd

Published August 23, 2013 at 11:48 AM CDT

[asset-images[{"caption": "Byron Blackmon recites Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.", "fid": "41264", "style": "card_280", "uri": "public://201308/IMG_5404.JPG", "attribution": "Credit Tim Lloyd / St. Louis Public Radio"}]]A small crowd gathered at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis on Saturday to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech.

The event was put together by the recently founded St. Louis Reconciliation Network, which has the mission of bridging racial divides through the collaboration of religious leaders.

“May our children be the generation be the generation that sees the stark dividing line of Delmar Blvd. dissolve,” Gustafson said. “May the ugly and hateful names some of us use for others never be heard again, either behind closed doors, online or in public.”

Larry Smith brought his daughter to the event, and like many in the crowd, said the anniversary presents an opportunity to inspire young people to be more engaged in civil rights issues.

“Her only recollection of Dr. King is through events like this,” Smith said. “A lot of folks don’t realize that he fought for equality amongst classes and equality amongst genders, as well. So, he was important for gender rights and important for class rights.”

Listen to thoughts from others in attendance, the 50^th anniversary is on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Michael_Mincey_.mp3

Michael Mincey recalls what he heard from his father and older sister who saw King gave his speech on August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Chauncey_Batchelor_.mp3

Chauncey Batchelor says the civil rights movement has more work to do.

Shayla_Ross_.mp3

Shayla Ross hopes that the anniversary will inspire young people to become more interested in civil rights issues.

Original Story

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leaning on a lectern on March 26, 1964. Monday, Jan. 17 is a national holiday, one that some will be using as an opportunity to serve their communities. (Wikimedia Commons/Marion S. Trikosko) — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leaning on a lectern on March 26, 1964. Monday, Jan. 17 is a national holiday, one that some will be using as an opportunity to serve their communities.

It’s been nearly 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.

A St. Louis organization is marking the occasion Saturday at 10 a.m. in Kiener Plaza.

The St. Louis Reconciliation Network is calling the event MLK50. There will be a reading of the original speech, music and a march to Christ Church Cathedral, one of the few places in St. Louis where King spoke.

King gave his speech on August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The main focus of Saturday’s event will be to really listen to the speech, according to David Gustafson, the founder and president of the St. Louis Reconciliation Network.

"It’s to reflect upon and celebrate the successes that we’ve had and the progress that we’ve made over the last 50 years, but also to think about the many ways we’ve fallen short of his original dream," he said.

This is the organization’s first big public event. Gustafson founded it last year with the mission of helping heal the region’s race relations, he said.