Sponsored by the city, the Piedmont Unified School District, Piedmont League of Women Voters, Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee, Piedmont African American League and Piedmont Asian American Club, the event was organized by Lois Corrin.

A former member of the city's Community Relations Advisory Committee, Corrin met King when she was 7. The civil rights leader was speaking at Virginia's Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. "It had a profound affect on me," she said.

Corrin said that she continues to promote King's teachings through the annual event in Piedmont, because King's goals haven't yet been achieved.

She looks forward to the time when the event will be a celebration of success, as opposed to a reminder that "there's still lots of work to do."

"As responsible members of this community, you are required to challenge the current administration's assaults on our civil rights, its continued erosion of educational and employment opportunities for all, invasions of our privacy, and investment in yet another set of wars that take away significant resources from home and do not necessarily benefit those we are fighting for," Corrin said on Monday. "This celebration is an opportunity to begin that challenge."

Several city and school officials also took part in Monday's festivities.

"The importance of today is that we never, never forget (King's) message," said Mayor Valerie Matzger. "He was such a powerful voice for all that we should be doing to make this a just and fair society."

Members of Piedmont High School's Gay Straight Alliance and Current Events Club talked about how their activities tie in with King's message of equality and justice for all.

Katherine Breeden and Ian Renner -- co-chairpeople of the Gay Straight Alliance -- said that they were grateful for the opportunity to speak at the event.

Their organization sponsors schoolwide assemblies to promote awareness of gay issues as they relate to youths.

"It gives us a great sense of validation to know that our community is supportive of our efforts to increase awareness of the diversity around us," Renner said.

Breeden said that true civil equality has not yet been obtained for many groups.

"Whether or not people have recognized it, the queer rights movement is the civil rights movement of our generation," Renner said. "As young people it is our responsibility to observe the examples of history in our struggle for equality, and hope that some day our future will live up to Dr. King's truths."

The student leaders of the Current Events Club two weeks ago implemented a "Red Tape Project" to raise awareness about hate speech on the Piedmont High School campus.

They used red tape to highlight demeaning and intolerant messages on desks, walls, bathroom fixtures, lockers and textbooks.

"Martin Luther King faced an enormous challenge attempting to redirect an entire society from what they accepted as natural (racial prejudice)," said club member Rachel Tietjen.

"We believe that hate speech -- although accepted in our society today -- must be recognized for what it means to the people it affects and it's implications in our society," she said.

"Awareness is the first step to change, and that was the main objective of the Current Events Club in creating the 'Red Tape Project'."

Moving performances by Oaktown Jazz and Oakland Youth Chorus -- as well as the showing of a video of King's "I Have A Dream" speech -- rounded out the program.

In closing comments, school board member Chuck Chakravartula quoted the final paragraph from King's last speech, delivered April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. King was shot and killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel the following day.

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Write to Lisa Coffey Mahoney at## lmahoney@cctimes.com.

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