"I still have faith in the future," the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said on March 20, 1964.

CANTON Canton City Schools celebrated International Day of Peace on Friday by dedicating a historical marker commemorating a speech given by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Memorial Fieldhouse on March 20, 1964.

State Rep. Thomas West, D-Canton, spearheaded the proposal for the plaque, with assistance from Ed Rehfus, retired district director of sports, recreation and physical education of Canton City Schools, the Greater Canton Martin Luther King. Jr. Commission, and the Massillon Plaque Co., which designed and installed it under the guidance of the Ohio History Connection.

Sara Owens, a legislative aide speaking on behalf of West, who could not attend, said securing the marker for Canton became West's passion and a top priority after winning his seat in 2016.

The civil rights leader who embraced nonviolent protest was invited to Canton in 1964 by the late Rev. Sheridan E. Lancaster, pastor of St. Paul AME Church. Lancaster's grandson, the Rev. George Lancaster, delivered Friday's invocation.

"When I think about Dr. King, I think about my grandfather," Lancaster said. "He was very instrumental and a key component of this community."

The dedication included an audio excerpt of King's Canton speech. About 1,000 people attended the original event where King called for strong civil rights legislation and noted "... So, while the law can't change the hearts of men, but it can change the habits of men..."

Racism is "not a sectional problem, but a national problem," King noted. "I still have faith in the future. I still have the faith to believe that this problem can be solved."

Pursue excellence

King ended his remarks in Canton by borrowing from his famous "I Have A Dream " speech. This year marks the 55th anniversary of that speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Anthony Gibbs, manager of local history for the Ohio History Connection, said the marker represents the future envisioned by King. Ohio has 1,650 historical markers.

"That future is in evidence today because his dream is each and every one of you," he told students. "As you move forward, as you do things to transform the future, you're bringing his dream to pass. His dream is that you overcome, no matter what darkness you may find... The very fact that you survived and are here today means that you are his dream in existence."

Several speakers said they weren't even aware King had visited Canton in 1964 until plans for the marker began to take shape.

Leonard Stevens, vice chair of the Greater Canton Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, noted that thousands of people have probably passed through the Fieldhouse without ever realizing the history made there in 1964.

"When Dr. King came to Canton, he spoke of the necessity of each person stepping up to the plate and taking their rightful place, and we must continue to stand for that which is right, that we must, 'Learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools,'" Stevens said. "What greater message can we pass along, than the message of unity, working together, with one another to achieve our dreams; helping to move our country forward by unifying our great nation."

Stevens noted that King urged young blacks in Canton to pursue excellence.

"As we stand here today, that message is still just as urgent," he said. "Dr. King said, 'Intelligence plus character, that is the true goal of education.' ... even through we're faced with challenging times, Dr. King's presence and the worlds he left us continue to inspire us today."

Rainbow society

School board member Mark Dillard noted that when King spoke in 1964, he was talking about "a new age."

"We're also in a new age now," he said. "When you look at the news in 2018, we definitely have some challenges. We definitely have a ways to go... But Dr. King, as he always did, he was looking at 1964 with hope to the future."

Dillard urged the crowd not to be satisfied with the progress made.

"Just start dreaming," he said. "And pass that dream onto others."

The program introduced members of the new Canton Youth Council. Diamond Oliver, president, led the crowd in a moment of silence.

Mayor Thomas Bernabei said Canton is fortunate to have hosted King, who should be celebrated for his leadership, his dedication to nonviolence, and for a life of action.

"His life and achievements were extraordinary," Bernabei said. "We can be proud that 54 years ago, Dr. King visited Canton and gave a noteworthy speech on racial equality and unity in our Canton Memorial Fieldhouse site. His speech is as meaningful today as it was 54 years ago."

McKinley Principal Thomas Hill is grateful the community has commemorated King's visit.

"One of the things I think, as a society, we forget those who came before us made our society and dreams possible," he said. "We live today in a rainbow society. It's a permanent reminder for us to be able to recognize and appreciate what others have done, and to inspire kids not only today but for generations to come."

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP