About a thousand people filled the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to remember the slain civil rights leader's legacy.

They honored the work and memory of King at the 22nd annual celebration at BAM. The Christian Cultural Center church choir and gospel legend Mavis Staples raised their voices at the ceremony.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz spoke about how King would be proud to see a black man and a woman vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, referring to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). He also said King would be proud of Brooklyn's diversity.

"Dr. King called it audacity, we call it the Brooklyn attitude," Markowitz said. "And together, our audacity will continue to transform this nation until it looks like one big Brooklyn."

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn also talked to the audience. Quinn denounced hate crimes plaguing the city.

BAM also has an art project for children that honors King. Many participants agreed that the celebration should be year-round, not just for one day.

To watch the full ceremony, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.