A San Diego Tradition-36th Annual All Peoples Celebration
- Antonio Valenzuela
- Feb 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important public figure who advocated for civil rights, particularly via speeches specifically pertaining to the use of nonviolence. He was one of the leading voices during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly with his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on August 28, 1963 and March on Washington, and March on Selma. Through his courageous words and willingness to help those he cared about, he was able to inspire countless demonstrators to follow him and preach nonviolence as a viable method for achieving civil rights.
In honour of Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence and legacy, an annual All Peoples Celebration is held here in San Diego. This year marks the 36th annual event, where hundreds gathered to sing the hymn for civil rights, "We Shall Overcome, " which has its roots in gospel and notably sung by Joan Baez during the March on Selma on August 28, 1963. This year’s celebration was held at Balboa Park on January 15, 2024, marking the 36th annual event.
This year, the event was hosted by Alliance San Diego, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated towards building an inclusive democracy. With the help of donations and supporters, Alliance San Diego aims for achieving equity, inclusivity, safety, and justice by protecting civil rights, advocacy, and much more.
A fundamental principle behind both Alliance San Diego and the All Peoples Celebration is that all people are born with dignity and therefore deserve respect and equal opportunities. “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” is an important mantra from Martin Luther King Jr. calling the American people to action in participating to shape a better future for all by strengthening our communities and how we work with each other. This is another fundamental approach for both Alliance San Diego and the All Peoples Celebration.
As a collaborative effort with other organizations and volunteers, Alliance San Diego was able to have the 36th annual All Peoples Celebration be full of festivities, such as live music performances, dancing, and several notable speeches from individuals such as Dr. Alisa Warren, Ph.D. in Community Development and Social Disparities from the University of Missouri, who is the president of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, with prospects in ending discrimination in employment, housing, and more. This year was particularly significant, marking the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The event also offered free breakfast for those with low income and without homes.
When asked by NBC San Diego about the significance of the event, Advancement Director of Alliance San Diego Miesha Rice provided some insight. “We all bleed the same and I feel like as we all work together to figure out what dignity means and honoring it in other people we can see each other for who we are. ” Miesha Rice has had many years of experience organizing and planning large scale events, as well as reaching out to others about social justice and solving problems faced by society. As such, she helped organize the event and has been an involved member of her community here in San Diego for a long time.
The 36th annual All Peoples Celebration drew in a total of over 700 individuals and helped carry on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on what would’ve been his 95th birthday. The 36th annual All Peoples Celebration held at Balboa Park on January 15, 2024 was able to help carry forward the will to achieve the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. With many people caring and willing to help raise awareness and continue to strive for what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, Alliance San Diego plans to shape a reality where there is equity, inclusivity, safety, and justice for all. Anyone willing to donate to Alliance San Diego can do so here
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