Meryl Streep, Sir Elton John and Barack Obama are among dozens of stars to share their “dreams” to mark the 50th anniversary of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination.
Samuel L Jackson, Sir Paul McCartney and Katy Perry were joined by London mayor Sadiq Khan to pledge their visions for the future in a video on Wednesday.
Stevie Wonder urged viewers to share their hopes on Twitter under the hashtag #DreamStillLives in honour of the civil rights icon of non-violence, who was silenced aged 39 by a gunman.
Former US president Mr Obama, joined by his wife Michelle, said: “Our dream is of a world where we recognise each other’s common humanity and that we shape for our children, peace, justice and opportunity for all.”
Streep said she wants Dr King’s theory on the arc of history bending towards justice to curve “a little more sharply” in the near future.
Sir Elton called for the eradication of Aids and Sir Paul said he wants world harmony, while Perry asked for “more acceptance and more tolerance”.
Labour’s Mr Khan said his dream is that “we don’t simply tolerate each other’s differences, we respect and celebrate them”.
50 years ago today, Dr. King's life was cut short but his dream still lives. My dream is that society will break the stigmas surrounding mental health. Share yours in the replies or post your own with #DreamStillLives 🙏🏼❤️ https://t.co/iad6WGJwnO
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) April 5, 2018
Jackson said he hopes for a time that “when we play the race card, it’s the human race card”, while Whoopi Goldberg added “that we don’t have to keep explaining to each other that we are equal”.
Lupita Nyong’o said her dream is for a time when “the colour of your skin and the money in your pocket doesn’t determine the value of your life”.
Eva Longoria called for equal pay for women, Bette Midler also joined in with a feminist demand and Jennifer Aniston added she wants “girls to run the world”.
Robert De Niro, Jamie Foxx, Harry Styles, Mary J Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Tiger Woods, Billie Jean King, Chadwick Boseman, Apple boss Tim Cook, Demi Lovato and Serena Williams were among others to pledge their visions.
On this day 50 years ago, they tried to silence his voice, but the #DreamStillLives ✌🏻 https://t.co/XMocaecbyI
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 5, 2018
Wonder said: “Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s teachings and works have led me and the world to give peace a chance. Although Dr King left us 50 years ago, his dream is still within all of us.”
The messages evoked Dr King’s legendary “I have a dream” speech made five years ahead of his murder.
On Wednesday, thousands marched in Memphis where Dr King was shot in 1968, as those across the world reflected on his aims to end racial and economic injustices.