More than half a century since Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, his legacy prevailed on Monday through marches, art and celebrations.

With schools out and many offices closed for the federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader, people from Eugene and Springfield turned out to celebrate and comment on how King's message still applies today despite changes America has seen.

The day's events started with a march organized by the NAACP and city of Eugene. Hundreds of people made their way down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from Autzen Stadium toward The Shedd Institute downtown. Adults and children held signs of protest and power such as "Black Lives Matter" and "Black is Beautiful."

Later, in the afternoon, a crowd of children, parents and community members gathered in front of the Springfield Justice Center on Fourth Street for the 22nd Annual MLK Jr. Celebration and March. Students from Springfield schools — including the Academy of Arts and Academics high school and Hamlin Middle School — stood in groups holding homemade signs with artful depictions of King alongside his famous quotes.

Marchers who didn't bring their own signs were encouraged to take one for free from the pile supplied by the city that featured King's famous phrases, such as "The time is always right to do what is right," and "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

Before the group took to the streets, Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg spoke, reading a statement originally made by Sen. Edward Kennedy in 1983.

The statement called King a "genius" and a "giant of American history."

"It's important to remember why this was important to make this day," Lundberg said. "(Kennedy) said then that these are difficult times."

This is still true today, she said, which is why she felt compelled to read Kennedy's statement before the march.

"We have a long ways to go still to be the nation that Dr. King envisioned," Lundberg said.

Once the marchers arrived at Springfield High School, people were welcomed into the cafeteria for the larger celebration which included cookies and snacks, colorful student art and poetry, and jazz music played by musicians in "The Invisible Arts Project."

Eric Richardson, executive director of the Eugene-Springfield NAACP, plucked the bass as part of the music group before taking the stage to speak during a later portion of the celebration in the school's auditorium.

"We are the world's oldest, baddest, most discussed, most cussed civil rights organization in the world," he said. "Because in the NAACP, we think you need to look inside your heart — that's why. Because the NAACP, like all of you, loves this country. We care about the soul of this country."

He encouraged people to vote this year, regardless of party, and take it upon themselves to bring their own struggles and experiences "to this fight." He alluded to the need for reparations and "making this country responsible for our ancestors and the struggles that we, the taxpayers and voters of America endure every day."

"We black folks — our history, our present being — are a mirror of all the manifold experiences of America. What we want, what we represent, what we endure is what America is," he said. "If we black folk perish, America itself will perish. We are one country, one people. Can I get an amen?"

Follow Jordyn Brown on Twitter @thejordynbrown or email at jbrown@registerguard.com.