By Clifford L. Williams,
Globe City Editor

Nearly 800 people attended the opening ceremony of Oakland Celebrates the Dream, a series of events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on Friday at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall.

   Co-hosts Kevin Brown, program director at KBLX 102.9, and Pam Moore, anchor for KRON TV, opened the event, followed by a performance by the Oakland School for the Arts Combo, a nine-piece R&B group.

    Additional entertainment included the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Carla Service of Dance-A-Vision Entertainment. Devon King, a student from Oakland Technical High School, delivered King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

    Oakland elementary school students Sunthipab Jong, Michael Miller, Max Wilson, Rachel Wilson, Pierre-Leon Mateo Roberts and Ronald West recited brief speeches by King and other notables, including Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.

    Joseph Marshall Jr., a youth development and violence prevention pioneer, delivered the keynote address. He discussed highlights of King’s career, including his philosophy of nonviolence, the March on Washington, the winning the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, his opposition to the war in Vietnam and his untimely death in April 1968.
   “When you look at this man, you need to be thankful that the Lord let such a man touch our lives even if it was only for a little while,” said Marshall.
    King’s niece Dr. Alveda King, daughter of Rev. A.D. King, made brief remarks to the crowd and thanked them for their attendance and recognition of her uncle.

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