Phillis Clements spent much of her day volunteering at a shelter in Sacramento. She says for her, the day's events have little to do with the color of anyone's skin.
"I think it's a really good reminder for us to get together and remember what Dr. King wanted us to really think about, not so much a race thing but really just coming together as a group of people, human beings. Being a good community and helping each other out."
Clements joined thousands of others who marched from neighborhoods in the North and South of the city to the convention center for a rally.
Several local public officials, including Democratic Senate leader Darrell Steinberg and Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, also took part in the event. Hundreds of others participated in a job fair at the convention center.