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| Obama honours Martin Luther King | Obama honours Martin Luther King |
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| Americans are marking the annual public holiday in memory of black civil rights leader Martin Luther King - on the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration. | Americans are marking the annual public holiday in memory of black civil rights leader Martin Luther King - on the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration. |
| The US president-elect helped to decorate a community project in Washington in memory of Dr King, who was assassinated in 1968. | The US president-elect helped to decorate a community project in Washington in memory of Dr King, who was assassinated in 1968. |
| Mr Obama paid tribute to Dr King and urged Americans to work together in "renewing the promise of this nation". | Mr Obama paid tribute to Dr King and urged Americans to work together in "renewing the promise of this nation". |
| Washington is braced for unprecedented crowds for Tuesday's inauguration. | Washington is braced for unprecedented crowds for Tuesday's inauguration. |
| "Everybody's got to be involved." Martin Luther King made his famous "I have a dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 From Little Rock to Obama: three generations tell their story | |
| More than two million people are expected to attend the historic event. | More than two million people are expected to attend the historic event. |
| Mr Obama began his day with a private visit to wounded US troops at a medical centre in north Washington. | Mr Obama began his day with a private visit to wounded US troops at a medical centre in north Washington. |
| He then visited a shelter for homeless and runaway young people in the city, where he helped to paint a wall. | He then visited a shelter for homeless and runaway young people in the city, where he helped to paint a wall. |
| "Given the crisis that we're in and the hardships that so many people are going through, we can't allow any idle hands," he told reporters. | "Given the crisis that we're in and the hardships that so many people are going through, we can't allow any idle hands," he told reporters. |
| Mr Obama described Dr King's life as one "lived in loving service to others". | Mr Obama described Dr King's life as one "lived in loving service to others". |
| There is a real risk that the media, far from over-emphasising the impact of the coming of Obama, tend to underplay it Justin Webb's America | |
| "As we honour that legacy, it's not a day just to pause and reflect - it's a day to act," he said in a statement. | "As we honour that legacy, it's not a day just to pause and reflect - it's a day to act," he said in a statement. |
| He reflected that Tuesday's inauguration ceremony would take place on the same mall where many thousands gathered in 1963 to hear Martin Luther King's so-called "I Have A Dream" speech - in which he foresaw a day when people would be judged not by the colour of their skin. | He reflected that Tuesday's inauguration ceremony would take place on the same mall where many thousands gathered in 1963 to hear Martin Luther King's so-called "I Have A Dream" speech - in which he foresaw a day when people would be judged not by the colour of their skin. |
| "We resolve that as we walk, we must walk together. And as we go forward in the work of renewing the promise of this nation, let's remember King's lesson - that our separate dreams are really one," Mr Obama said. | "We resolve that as we walk, we must walk together. And as we go forward in the work of renewing the promise of this nation, let's remember King's lesson - that our separate dreams are really one," Mr Obama said. |
| It is a quirk of historical fate that Martin Luther King Day should fall the day before the US swears in its first black president, the BBC's Matthew Price in Birmingham, Alabama, says. | It is a quirk of historical fate that Martin Luther King Day should fall the day before the US swears in its first black president, the BBC's Matthew Price in Birmingham, Alabama, says. |
| For many in the southern states, Barack Obama's presidency will be the culmination of Dr King's dream, our correspondent says. | For many in the southern states, Barack Obama's presidency will be the culmination of Dr King's dream, our correspondent says. |
| Dr King's sister, Christine King Farris, told the BBC she had not expected to see a black president in her lifetime. | Dr King's sister, Christine King Farris, told the BBC she had not expected to see a black president in her lifetime. |
| "It will be a great occasion in both memories of what my brother was fighting for, so I'll certainly be thinking of him on that day," she said. | "It will be a great occasion in both memories of what my brother was fighting for, so I'll certainly be thinking of him on that day," she said. |
| Queues | Queues |
| Some snow showers are forecast for Washington DC during Monday and temperatures are set to drop to well below freezing overnight. | Some snow showers are forecast for Washington DC during Monday and temperatures are set to drop to well below freezing overnight. |
| The weather for Tuesday is forecast to be colder than average, around 32F (0C). | The weather for Tuesday is forecast to be colder than average, around 32F (0C). |
| INAUGURATION WEATHER Read the BBC weather forecast | INAUGURATION WEATHER Read the BBC weather forecast |
| Enormous crowds are expected for Tuesday's inauguration and security chiefs say they are prepared for all eventualities. | Enormous crowds are expected for Tuesday's inauguration and security chiefs say they are prepared for all eventualities. |
| Roads and bridges into Washington will be closed to traffic, with sniffer dogs on the subway. | Roads and bridges into Washington will be closed to traffic, with sniffer dogs on the subway. |
| Thousands of armed police, soldiers and plainclothes agents will be on the streets, with snipers in position on rooftops near the Capitol building and along the parade route. | Thousands of armed police, soldiers and plainclothes agents will be on the streets, with snipers in position on rooftops near the Capitol building and along the parade route. |
| Helicopters and fighter jets will patrol the skies, and coastguards will police the waterways. | Helicopters and fighter jets will patrol the skies, and coastguards will police the waterways. |
| Those in charge of security had some idea of what to expect after dealing with the hundreds of thousands who descended on the capital for Sunday's welcome concert, that kicked off the inauguration festivities. | Those in charge of security had some idea of what to expect after dealing with the hundreds of thousands who descended on the capital for Sunday's welcome concert, that kicked off the inauguration festivities. |
| The Washington Post reports that checkpoints were overwhelmed and queues stretched for blocks. Several thousand people were still trying to enter the area when Mr Obama appeared on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for the start of the show. | The Washington Post reports that checkpoints were overwhelmed and queues stretched for blocks. Several thousand people were still trying to enter the area when Mr Obama appeared on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for the start of the show. |
| Follow the inauguration on the BBC News website, with live text updates from 1400 GMT (0900 ET), streaming video from 1600 GMT, full coverage from our correspondents in Washington and reaction from across the world. | Follow the inauguration on the BBC News website, with live text updates from 1400 GMT (0900 ET), streaming video from 1600 GMT, full coverage from our correspondents in Washington and reaction from across the world. |