L.A., NATION REMEMBER KING, DREAM; VALLEY EVENT LURES JACKSON.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly 30 years after his assassination, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was revered across the Southland by thousands of people, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson who made a surprise visit in North Hollywood on Monday night.

Greeted by a long standing ovation, Jackson joined nearly 600 people at the Valley Interfaith Council's celebration Monday of the King holiday at Temple Beth Hillel in North Hollywood.

Jackson drew comparisons between the historic suffering of Jews and African-Americans, saying both groups are bonded in blood and suffering.

``We have known the suffering. Suffering breeds character and character breeds faith. And in the end, faith prevails,'' Jackson said.

Jackson, who worked with King until he was shot to death April 4, 1968, said the slain civil rights leader would have approved of the multiracial and multifaith celebration in his honor Monday.

``He would enjoy being here. He would enjoying listening to blacks and Jews singing together,'' Jackson said.

King celebrated his birthday in 1968 by helping others, an example Jackson used to inspire the people gathered in North Hollywood on Monday.

Jackson called for people to take action instead of merely talking about racial differences. He cited many modern-day struggles including the fight for equal opportunities, affirmative action, and improving education in impoverished areas such as Watts.

``Let's act together in his dream. Keep the dream alive,'' Jackson said.

His speech was well-received Monday.

``I like how he encouraged the races to get along because we're all equal, we're all human and we're all God's people,'' said Greg Williams of New Orleans, who is visiting his family in the Valley this week.

``He actually came down to earth and told it just like it was,'' said Steve Drapkin, a Van Nuys resident and Jewish member of the temple where Jackson spoke. ``He had feeling because he believed it. I think he really means what he says.''

During the two-hour remembrance, which included the faiths of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Bahai, local dignitaries and others tapped their feet and clapped in time with the multiracial choir. The ceremony included readings from King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and Hebrew Scripture.

Several speakers addressed the gathering on the remaining racial divide in America.

``Today in our community, hate crimes are on the rise . . . lack of understanding is on the rise,'' said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. ``You wonder what is it about our society for these kinds of hate crimes to flourish.''

Yaroslavsky went on to provide an answer. ``It's about knowing one another and learning not to tolerate one another, but to celebrate one another,'' he said. ``Martin Luther King taught us how to dream big dreams. If we follow in his footsteps . . . we will do all right.''

Elsewhere in Los Angeles on Monday, the memory of King was celebrated with parades, prayer gatherings and a summing up of the National Days of Dialogue on Race Relations ushered in observance of King's birthday in Southern California.

Across the region, thousands gathered to march and ride floats in honor of King. On the boulevard named for the slain civil rights leader, parade grand marshal Police Chief Bernard C. Parks was joined by Democratic Lt. Gov. Gray Davis and Republican state Attorney General Dan Lungren, both officials seeking the governorship.

To advance racial dialogue, Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas initiated what's become an annual series of discussions after O.J. Simpson's 1995 acquittal on murder charges further polarized how the races view each other.

In Pasadena, Ridley-Thomas gathered with members of Congress and an emissary from President Clinton to recount frank discussions on race relations held in Los Angeles and other cities.

``We don't make any claims that this is a panacea, but it is an important step in this journey that is a legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,'' said Ridley-Thomas.

Many people expressed their admiration for King by joining the parades that fanned out across the region and the nation.

In Inglewood, William Allen Young, of television's ``Moesha,'' told paradegoers that by marching in Monday's parade, they honored King's legacy of nonviolent demonstration against racial injustice.

``Today we march,'' he said. ``It's symbolic, but it's meaningful.''

At the annual Archdiocese of Los Angeles King breakfast celebration, the Rev. Fisher Robinson said the late leader's legacy must live on.

``Dr. King left us 30 years ago, but the fact is - it's an effort to keep alive the dream that he shared, but also to say to each one - that we all have a dream, and we all have a success story.''

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks Monday night in North Hollywood.

David Sprague/Daily News

(2 -- color) Shardae Anthony, 4, gets a prime viewing location on the shoulders of her father, Scottie, for the Freedom March held in Oxnard.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News

(3 -- color) The Audubon Middle High School Majorettes step lively at a parade in the Crenshaw district Monday.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News