What to Know About the Delayed Kingdom Day Parade in South LA
Parade Details
The 40th Kingdom Day Parade, postponed due to January’s wildfires, is scheduled to take place on Monday in South Los Angeles. The parade, originally scheduled for two days before Martin Luther King Day, will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue. Participants will head west on MLK Jr. Boulevard to Crenshaw Boulevard and then south to Vernon Avenue.
Theme and Grand Marshal
This year’s theme is “Peace and Unity, Let it Start With Us,” and Attorney Ben Crump is the grand marshal.
Postponement Explanation
The parade was postponed from Jan. 18 to ensure that emergency resources, including fire and law enforcement personnel, remained fully available to address the Palisades and Eaton fires, according to Adrian Dove, the parade’s chairman and executive producer.
Elected Officials and Participants
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis, and Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Maxine Waters, both D-Los Angeles, are among the elected officials set to participate in the parade. The event will feature floats, bands, marching units, and equestrians.
Special Participants
Metro’s representation in the parade will include its replica of the General Motors “old look” bus Rosa Parks was riding on in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to white passengers, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s float will feature the words “Racism is a Public Health Issue.” More than 50 volunteers from the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare nonprofit organization will march and ride the float, including members of its Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition affinity group.
Other Participants
Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Cal State LA’s first Black woman president, will lead a delegation of students, faculty, and staff, including Basketball Hall of Fame member Michael Cooper, an assistant men’s basketball coach for the Golden Eagles.
About the Parade
The parade is billed by organizers as the “world’s largest and longest-running life celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Conclusion
The Kingdom Day Parade is a significant event in South LA, celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After being postponed due to wildfires, the parade is now scheduled to take place on Monday. With a theme of “Peace and Unity, Let it Start With Us,” the event is expected to feature a range of participants, including elected officials, community groups, and individuals from across Los Angeles.
FAQs
* What is the Kingdom Day Parade?
The Kingdom Day Parade is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
* Why was the parade postponed?
The parade was postponed to ensure that emergency resources, including fire and law enforcement personnel, remained fully available to address the Palisades and Eaton fires.
* What is the theme of this year’s parade?
The theme of this year’s parade is “Peace and Unity, Let it Start With Us.”
* Who is the grand marshal of this year’s parade?
Attorney Ben Crump is the grand marshal of this year’s parade.
