Joining high school marching bands, union members and civil rights activists, a group of several hundred people came in support of gay rights, saying King's message was one of inclusion.
"Dr. King's dream is for everyone, not just one specific group of individuals," said Michelle Bruce, a Riverdale City Council member who marched with a transgender group called TransAction.
In a commemorative service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King III asked the congregation to remember his father's legacy of peace as America wages war in Iraq, and to remember his message of compassion in light of the tsunami disaster. King preached at Ebenezer from 1960 until his assassination in 1968 at age 39.
BOSTON
At a King day breakfast, Sen. John Kerry made some of his strongest comments since Election Day about voting problems in some states.
While reiterating that he did not contest the presidential election, Kerry said: "I nevertheless make it clear that thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote. Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, 11 hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes - same voting machines, same process, our America."
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
In Montgomery, Ala., the city where King led the famous bus boycott, a crowd gathered at the steps of the state Capitol.
Speakers included Public Service Commissioner George Wallace Jr., son of the one-time arch segregationist, Gov. George Wallace.
Wallace said his father changed his views after he was left paralyzed by an assassination attempt and later visited the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where King once served as pastor, to ask for forgiveness.
"His journey from the Old South to Dr. King's church was one that we all took," Wallace said.
ELSEWHERE
ANN ARBOR, MICH: Affirmative action supporters demonstrated against a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at banning racial preferences.
DENVER: Tens of thousands walked two miles to remember King and honor his message of nonviolent change.
PHILADELPHIA: About 45,000 volunteers showed up for the 10th annual day of service named for the civil rights leader. The roughly 600 community projects included renovating area schools and churches.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Bush planned to attend an event honoring King at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
