Speaking on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Beck also sought to invoke King as emblematic of the cause he was seeking to advance.

“While parts of the country saw black and white, King saw only right and wrong,” Beck said in a voiceover to a video evoking the civil rights struggle with images of King. “From the beginning he recognized America as an idea, one that could only succeed if everyone was given a seat at the counter.”

King knew, Beck said, that the fight for freedom and equality would be hard.

“King firmly stood by his beliefs,” Beck said. “Martin Luther King held strong, while his detractors spewed hate. He had the truth on his side.”

He added, “Today, August 28, 2010, we stand here in this same hallowed ground with our heads held high and our hearts open. We all have the inalienable right to live in a country with liberty and justice for all.”