By Julia Fairclough

Martin Luther King day symbolizes striving to be a better person, to be tolerant of others, and to treat everyone with fairness, said Congressman Michael Capuano on Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration at Somerville High School.

Capuano was among the many local politicians, civic organization members and residents who gathered to reflect upon social justice. The event was sponsored by the Somerville Human Rights Commission and the Early Childhood Advisory Council.

"I look forward to the day when we don't need a Human Rights Commission, a time when everyone is treated with fairness and everyone is accepted for who they are – which is what Martin Luther King Day is all about," said Capuano, who formed the commission back when he was the city's mayor.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone opened the event with a moment of silence for the Haitian community, and then lauded the city's organizations that work on social change, that are "not viewed by the color of their skin, but continued support for the city of Somerville."

Franklin Dalembert, the executive director of the Haitian Coalition of Somerville, thanked the city for their support during this time of crisis, and warned that the worst is yet to come. "We ask for continued support to ensure we can cope with this tragedy," he said.

Somerville High School Junior Autumn Thornton delivered the student address, stating that the high school has a "zero tolerance" policy for racial injustice.

The organization award went to Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services (CSLS) for their hard work in offering free legal help to the elderly and needy population. Todd Kaplan of CSLS (and senior attorney for Greater Boston Legal Services) spoke about the foreclosure project in Somerville and Cambridge that entails volunteers knocking on doors to tell people (who are in danger of foreclosing) that they have the right to stay in their homes.

The CSLS members and volunteers have already gone to 160 homes and canvases most Sundays. The organization is working on a judicial foreclosure effort to educate tenants about their rights if the building they live in is undergoing the foreclosure process.

Melissa McWhinney, the director of advocacy for Community Action Agency of Somerville received the "individual award," and lauded the many organizations in Somerville for the good work they do. "Out of the 80,000 people here in Somerville, one out of eight lives below the poverty level and may go hungry," she said.