Around 200 Hillsborough marchers gathered downtown on a beautiful sunny day for the “20th Anniversary Northern Orange Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.”

Members of the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, the Orange County Board of Education and the Orange County Board of Commissioners were among those who gathered at the Hillsborough Courthouse at 9 a.m. to celebrate King’s legacy.

Orange County Commissioners Chair Earl McKee paid tribute to him, and others of the civil rights movement who are no longer with us.

“Too many of those voices were silenced by violence,” said McKee. “Some, because they insisted on the right to vote. Some, because they insisted on the right to sit or to ride, where they chose. And, unfortunately, some because they simply spoke the truth.

“Those voices are gone now. They’re part of history. Lest that history be forgotten, we must speak, not only for them, but for our children, and our children’s children.”

Dr. Stephen Halkiotis, chair of the Board of Education and longtime Orange County educator, picked up on that theme, and railed against politicians that seek to move the nation back to old, discriminatory policies.

“Young people have to remember their history,” said Halkiotis. “Young people have to be taught their history. Young people need to remember, if you don’t know your history, you’re doomed to repeat it!

“And there are people in Raleigh and in Washington, D.C. today that want to turn back the clock. They want to bring back what were the good old days for them. They were not the good old days for Dr. King.”

Rev. Dr. George I. Allison of New Hope Baptist Church in Greensboro had sharp words for Republican leaders who’ve worked steadfastly against the president’s efforts to expand health care coverage.

“The enemy said, ‘We cannot leave this thing as the Affordable Health Care Act. We have to call it Obamacare. Affordable health care will help everybody. When we call it “Obamacare,” then we can relegate it to a black man.’”

The first leg of the morning march took citizens to the Dickerson Chapel AME Church, where Rev. George Crews III of Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Hurdle Mills lamented the fates of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner in Staten Island.

“We have a problem going on in our country,” said Crews, “ where young black boys are being killed – murdered, if you will. Shot down, and even choked out. Not by some militant group that has the same letters three times in a row. But it’s by the folks that were called to serve and protect.”

By contrast, the relationships on display between law enforcement officers and Orange County marchers were warm, friendly and often familiar, with lots of handshakes, and even hugs.

The last stop on the march was at Mount Bright Missionary Baptist Church, where a service was held inside.

Rhonda Brooks of Hillsborough was there, joined by a family friend and two young kids – Brooks’ niece and granddaughter.

She said she wanted the kids to take away one important message from King’s work.

“He did that march, and did all that boycotting and stuff for all of us – for everybody to be one,” said Brooks. “And that’s what I want them to know. Everybody can be one big, happy family.”

Speaking to the church audience, Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens thanked the celebration committee chair Dr. Millicent C. Rainey and all who were involved in putting together the events.

Stevens didn’t shy away from talking about a stain on the town’s history, as he celebrated progress since then, while giving credit where it’s due.

“That’s the stain of slavery,” said Stevens, “and of racism, and of segregation. There are people in this room who have not felt welcome, at different times, on the streets of our city.

“And we celebrate today, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and all the people, named and unnamed, who have worked hard to make this community, and communities around this country, welcome.”