Shasta community celebrates 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'Dream' speech

Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
·3 min read
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A community organization will commemorate the iconic message delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. six decades ago while celebrating one California man's pursuit of his American dream.

The Shasta Beloved Community will host a program that embraces the meaning what is known worldwide as Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the First United Methodist Church in Redding.

“The 60th Anniversary of Dr. King's ‘I Have a Dream’ speech ― delivered on Aug. 28, 1963 at the historic March on Washington ― serves as a reminder of the power of visionary leadership and the pursuit of equality," Shasta Beloved Community’s facilitator Eddie McAllister said in a statement. "Dr. King's words continue to inspire generations advocating for justice, unity and a society free from discrimination,” McAllister said.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.

The program’s featured speaker is Sergio Garcia, the first lawyer admitted to the State Bar of California who had undocumented immigrant status, McAllister said.

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Garcia’s story is an example of the decades-long limbo in which many immigrants find themselves while they wait for their approved resident visas.

Born in Mexico in 1977, Garcia was brought by his family to California when he was 17-months-old “without inspection or documentation by immigration officials,” according to court documents.

After periods where he picked almonds and worked in a grocery store, Garcia graduated from Butte College and Chico State University before going on to attend law school at night so he could work during the day.

Garcia received his law degree from Cal Northern School of Law and passed the California bar examination in May 2009. But the state bar refused to grant a law license to Garcia because of a 1996 federal law that prohibits people living illegally in the U.S. from receiving professional licenses. In his state bar application, Garcia said he wasn’t a U.S. citizen and that his immigration status was pending, according to the court.

Garcia went to court to challenge the federal law. Eventually, the California Supreme Court ruled that Garcia could practice law despite his immigration status.

Garcia gained his U.S. citizenship in 2019.

Other activities at Saturday’s celebration of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech includes a performance of the Baptist Gospel Experience by the Shasta Beloved Community Choir. There will also be a recitation of the “I Have a Dream” speech given by diverse members of the community.

Saturday's event is free and begins at 3 p.m. at the church, 1825 East St., followed by a multicultural dinner at 5 p.m. Free childcare will be available onsite for children ages 7 and younger.

Shasta Beloved Community mission is to follow Dr. King's practice of change through nonviolence. “We seek to align ourselves with those engaging peacefully within our community and, in doing so, build a network of people choosing nonviolent solutions,” McAllister said.

For more information about Shasta Beloved Community email thebelovedcommunity@yahoo.com.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta Beloved Community commemorates King's 'I Have a Dream' speech