King's Honor

"We want people to actively observe Martin Luther King day," said Rabbi Jay Miller, chair of the event. "It's not just a day to stay at home but to actually go out and observe and gather," he said.

This year Sam Johnson, the superintendent of San Mateo Union High School District, will be the honorary chair and receive a plaque for his community leadership. Researchers from Stanford University will also be recognized for their work publishing King's speeches and writings for students and the community.

Miller said participants will sing "We shall overcome" and refreshments will be served before the train leaves to San Francisco at 10:45 a.m. The train will stop at the city's Caltrain depot to join an expected 7,000 on a march down Market Street to a rally at the Civic Center from about 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It is the sixth year participants have gathered in San Mateo, and more than 250 came last year. Roundtrip train tickets are $5 and regular Caltrain tickets will not be accepted. Riders can catch trains back to the Peninsula all afternoon.

The chartered train is also stopping in Sunnyvale and Palo Alto at 10:15 a.m. to pick up riders.

Fifty churches, synagogues and other houses of worship are sponsoring the event, including San Mateo Unitarian Universalist Church, Burlingame's St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Belmont Congregationalist Church. The three also sponsored street banners in San Mateo, Burlingame and Belmont which will be flown until Tuesday, Miller said.

Students also made speeches about King's teachings on Wednesday and Thursday night at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in San Mateo.

Some students there said they would not know their ethnically diverse classmates had schools not been integrated.

Freedom Train organizers are also planning a 2005 Inclusion Calendar, highlighting community events that reflect the Peninsula's racial, ethnic and religious diversity.

"King didn't just bring about peace and justice, he made it a priority," Miller said. "This is one way of achieving it."

More information is available by calling 377-8708.