BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Alongside the presidential inauguration, Monday was also Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- a federal celebration of the legacy of the civil rights leader. The holiday falls on the third Monday of each January. Here in Bakersfield, nearly 380 gathered in celebration Monday morning for the annual MLK Jr. breakfast. This annual community breakfast first started in 1998. This year's theme is all about "protecting freedom, justice and democracy in the spirit of nonviolence." "If you love King, then you love everybody," said Rev. Wesley Crawford Sr. "The Bible says love thee one another as I have loved you. That was Martin stomp down, he stayed with that." From adult attendees to the children and first-time breakfast go-ers, everyone rejoiced in the legacy of the iconic civil rights leader, right here in Bakersfield. "I was going to the breakfast as a kid when I was 13, I'm now 40," said Incoming Vice Chair of the Dr. MLK, Jr. Committee, Michael Bowers. "It's nothing like being here today for them to experience [our culture]," said Karen Shah, who brought her three granddaughters to breakfast. One of them, Maleah, told 17 News she learned, "that you have to be nice to other people." Another, Milah, said she also learned, "to be kind and nice to others." "Everything [Dr. King] has [done] in the past just for us to be able to be in a room all together is just a unified event," said Sunni Crawford, Chair, of the SCLC of Kern County. Kern County political reaction to the inauguration of Donald Trump Due to ongoing renovations of the MLK Park, the breakfast was at Bakersfield College this year. But as L. Dee Slade -- or Mama Dee -- said, that too is history. Bakersfield College was the college for African Americans, Slade, executive director of the African-American Network of Kern County, said. Dr. King was no stranger to Bakersfield -- quite literally. On Thursday Feb. 5, 1960, King led a march down 4th Street to Chester Avenue. Then he spoke to a sold-out crowd in the Harvey Auditorium at Bakersfield High School. "MLK Jr. was an incredible unifier, we need that," said Traco Matthews, a pastor and incoming co-chair of the Dr. MLK, Jr. Committee. "He was also a courageous advocate for people who are oppressed and marginalized, and again, we need that." The breakfast also featured awards, including for the youth. "We're really trying to emphasize and focus on the youth. This is what it looks like to move from Black history to Black future," Bowers emphasized. Keeping with tradition, a community luncheon and clothing drive at the MLK Community Center on South Owens Street followed the breakfast, featuring games, free food and even free haircuts. "You can tell by the turnout today people are really energized about what's taking place and getting into the community," said Supervisor for the MLK Community Center Parks and Recreation Department, Keith Powell. Powell said he's excited and hopeful about the renovations. "It's a hub, it's a place where people have been coming for years to participate in swim lessons, using the basketball gym, coming to community events and activities," Powell said. "Bakersfield, Kern County, that is the community," said Slader. "So, we are one, not separate. We, W-E, we are we."