{"id":146092,"date":"2026-01-23T09:13:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T09:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/146092\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T09:13:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T09:13:08","slug":"call-to-action-march-brings-together-del-paso-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/146092\/","title":{"rendered":"Call To Action March Brings Together Del Paso Heights"},"content":{"rendered":"

A famous quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. states, \u201cWe cannot walk alone, and as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Such belief guided Dr. King\u2019s approach to social change. At pivotal moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Birmingham Campaign, and the 1963 March on Washington, Dr. King used marches as moral statements. It was a nonviolent way to demand justice, visibility, and accountability.<\/p>\n

More than 60 years later, that legacy continued Jan. 19 as about 500 people gathered at Grant Union High School on a foggy morning for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s Call to Action march in Del Paso Heights.<\/p>\n

The event brought together students, families, elders, and community leaders. They reflected on Dr. King\u2019s legacy and put his teachings into action. The march aimed to honor Dr. King and provide space for organizing, fostering intergenerational dialogue, and inspiring ongoing community engagement. It was organized by Twin Rivers Unified School District, the City of Sacramento, and local community organizations.<\/p>\n

\"DerrellDerrell Roberts, chief executive officer of the Roberts Family Development Center and an event co-organizer, says the march has become a community tradition. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER<\/p>\n

Derrell Roberts, chief executive officer of the Roberts Family Development Center and one of the event\u2019s organizers, said he was encouraged by the turnout, especially the number of young people who showed up despite the cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything else, our intention today was to ensure that young people have a platform to express their voices, be heard, and for us to actively engage in meaningful conversations about continuing King\u2019s mission,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For Roberts, Dr. King\u2019s legacy is deeply personal. He recalls being a child in 1968 when Dr. King was assassinated.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of my mom\u2019s reaction, I knew that day was a hard day,\u201d he said. \u201cSomething happened to somebody very important.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that many of the issues Dr. King sought to address remain unresolved.<\/p>\n

\"ElectedElected officials gathered at Grant Union High School to participate in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s call to Action march in Del Paso Heights. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think about it, the 1964 Voting Rights Act, [it\u2019s] almost 62 years later, and we\u2019re dealing with the exact same issues,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cIt\u2019s important that we work with our young people and across the board in our communities to make sure we don\u2019t go backward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bundled in jackets and hoodies against the cold, marchers received free sweatshirts and food. Organizers said the gesture ensured everyone could participate comfortably and emphasized the day\u2019s focus on care, community, and collective responsibility.<\/p>\n

During the march, participants reflected on what Dr. King\u2019s legacy means to them today, building on the themes discussed by earlier speakers and community leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am here to continue the march that Martin Luther King started,\u201d said Stella Byrd, a Sacramento resident. \u201cThe legacy of Martin Luther King to me means that we must always fight for justice. He started this fight, and we must continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thian Griffith, who attended the march with her two daughters, said she worries that Dr. King\u2019s legacy is under threat.<\/p>\n

\"GrantGrant Union High school principal, Dr. Darris Hinson, gives\u00a0 a speech at Grant Union High School\u2019s gymnasium before the\u00a0 Call to Action march in Del Paso Heights. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legacy of MLK means freedom \u2014 the ability to participate in this march today without worrying that violence would occur,\u201d Griffith said. \u201cBut with the way our country is moving, I\u2019m worried about our ability to continue these marches and live out MLK\u2019s legacy in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Natasha C. Miller, the march was about honoring the path King helped create.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Martin Luther King provided a legacy for us to be able to walk, to have our freedom,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

Youth voices also were at the forefront of the event. Jackson Johnson, a senior at Grant Union High School, delivered a speech urging older generations to engage more deeply with young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need you,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe need more than your applause and more than celebration. We need you to teach us why things are the way they are. Teach us the history, the systems, and the strategies you used to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the fog lifted and the march ended, community members reflected on Dr. King\u2019s decades-old messages. For those at Grant High, the march served as both a tribute and a reminder that the call to action endures.<\/p>\n

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