JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shined bright Friday.
From the spunky speeches to the preaching of peace ... everything the leader represented was evident at Jacksonville's 26th annual breakfast.
The biggest theme? Education.
"I will work until I leave this earth to prove the quality of public education in our city. It is so important," Mayor Alvin Brown said.
Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of Duval County schools, couldn't be happier about the teamwork.
"I woudn't want to be in any other city in the United States besides Jacksonville right now, considering the amount of energy, partnership and community to get it right for kids," he said.
Andrew Young was the keynote speaker. The former ambassador, mayor of Atlanta and friend of Dr. King spoke about controversial times. He retold MLK's vision of freedom, and non-violence approach during the movement. Things were tough, but in Young's eyes, worth it.
"The amazing thing to me about the civil rights movement was I mean, I got beat up. But I didn't get beat up any worse than I did in a football game. And it was for a purpose," he said.
The breakfast ended with a call to unity and the powerful words of the Negro National Anthem "Lift Ev'ry Voice."
"We're all in it together. Dr. King was an ordinary man but had an extraordinary vision for his country," Brown said.
Action News anchor Dawn Lopez gave the welcome and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
