Fresno leaders honor Martin Luther King Jr.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Despite the rain Monday morning, hundreds of people gathered in Downtown Fresno for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. march and commemoration.

The Martin Luther King day event started at Fresno City Hall with local leaders encoring everyone to make peace in their community. "Doctor King did not ask for people to stand on the sidelines," Fresno city council member Oliver Baines said. "He asked for people to come and help. He just didn't talk to us to make us feel good, he asked us to get involved."

From City Hall, the crowd marched to the Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Outside the auditorium, a few more words to encourage peace but after everyone gathered inside the auditorium, a musical tribute and commemoration of Doctor Martin Luther King's life to motivate the crowd to keep working for justice.

Dancers of Panjab India performed in celebration and unity for today and the future.

Action News Anchor Liz Harrison served as MC of the ceremony where a number of dignitaries and local clergy spoke. Several people who attended the ceremony want everyone to know that Doctor's King's holiday is more than just a day off from school or work. "As far as history goes, it was a little bit before my time," Fresno resident Tyler Bohanna said. "But I read a lot about him in grade school, I'm actually here to pay my respects to him here on his birthday."

"More parents should bring their kids out to see this," resident Verles Page said. "They're new in life. It is important that they see these things."