EVERETT — Motivational speaker Reginald Gillins’ files are no doubt full of material for a day like Thursday.
But on the 75th birthday of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most recognized and instrumental figures in American civil rights history, Gillins decided to let King do the talking.
At the end of a spirited march from Everett Community College to the Snohomish County Courthouse, Gillins stepped before a crowd of more than 200 and began to speak some of King’s best-known words — "words that changed the course of our nation’s history."
The fiery Gillins, in a dark suit and red tie, barely glanced at his notes as he spoke about King’s dream in King’s own words.
King’s dream promised absolute freedom from the "manacles of segregation" and the "chains of discrimination."
King’s dream promised that all men would be equal and that there would be a day when King’s own children would be "judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Gillins’ voice boomed, bouncing and rolling down the courthouse steps and through the streets of downtown Everett.
For a few minutes, ignoring the drizzling rain, some Snohomish County residents were drawn closer to that sweltering August day in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In Everett, the rain made more noise than the crowd.
"The Emancipation Proclamation … came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice," Gillins recited.
Nearly all eyes were on Gillins.
A group of children in front methodically chewed bubble gum, mesmerized by Gillins’ thunderous voice.
A college student absent-mindedly massaged his girlfriend’s shoulders as both gazed into the distance.
A stoic, uniformed Navy man stood with his arms clasped formally behind his back and his head tilted to listen.
Suddenly, Gillins paused his recitation of King’s speech for a moment.
"Y’all need to loosen up," he told the crowd.
King was a Baptist preacher accustomed to an engaged and energetic crowd, Gillins said.
Thursday, Everett’s crowd of sailors, college students, children, politicians, Buddhists and machinists was certainly diverse, but not as vocal as the average Alabama rally crowd.
"Can we get an amen?" Gillins asked.
"Amen!" one woman yelled.
"Some of us are Gucci-ed down," Gillins joked. "But I want you to loosen up a little bit."
He continued to recite King’s historic speech.
"… Many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."
This made the courthouse crowd cheer.
After Gillins spoke the last words of King’s speech, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" the crowd that Gillins described as "the whitest white to the blackest black" clapped and whistled, and a handful of people even gave him an "Amen."
Almost 60 Tulalip students attended the march and rally. As they boarded the bus for home, the students agreed they’d had a good time.
The day off school was a plus, said 11-year-olds Shawn Comenote and Josephine Fryberg, and 13-year-old Taylor Henry. But they said they learned something on their field trip.
"The speeches were long, but good," Shawn said of the speakers, who included Gillins, County Executive Aaron Reardon and Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, among others.
Josephine pointed out that as American Indians, they, too, have had to fight for their rights.
Like other children at the rally, they clamored for autographs and CDs from rap singer Willie Will, who provided music.
Will calls himself a positive rapper.
"A majority of hip-hop is negative. I come from a similar background (as other rappers), but my perspective is different," Will said.
He said that, like King, he tries to use peaceful means to change the world.
King is a wonderful role model, he said.
"I thank him for giving me something to follow — to lead my life by," Will said.
Reporter Jennifer Warnick:
425-339-3429 or
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