Pick a channel! Almost every major news outlet in the city turned out to hear Senators Maxine Waters and Kamala Harris give speeches today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King who lost his life during America’s second most recent civil rights movement died at the age of 39 and would have been 89 today.
The Martin Luther Kingdom Day Parade, founded 37 years ago by the late Larry Grant and businessman Celes King III, is continued by Kingdom Day Parade President/CEO, Dr. Adrian Dove, a former field staffer who worked under Dr. King as a Voter Registration Worker in the Deep South during the 60s. Ceremonies began early for media and specially invited guests of the traditional, “Sponsors & Supporters Breakfast”.
Watch out Trump – Senator Maxine Waters is coming for you.
No shortage of delicious offerings from the Creole Cafe and no holding back as Senator Waters took on Trump urging all of us to get out or stay in (social media) to protest and impeach. Senator Harris reminded us to keep our thoughts and actions positive and “pro” justice, with both the Senators providing more than enough inspiration and high esteemed guidance for anyone who needed it.
Holding it down, Senator Waters introduced this year’s Kingdom Parade honorees who included the Kingdom Day Queen & Royal Court, Presenting Sponsor, Blue Shield of California Robert Birkes, LA Dodgers Alumni Dennis Powell and Derrel Thomas, and lifetime achievement award going to blues singing performance art center extraordinaire Barbara Morrison.
So how was the parade?
Groovy and soulful. Maybe the most soulful parade known to man, with Saints marching in, Marvin Gaye blasting from the floats, overly active, dancing crowds anxiously awaiting the next record and one very energetic Statue of Liberty. Mistress of Ceremonies: Leslie Sykes, ABC 7 News Anchor hosted the event and all who attended were equally elated inside of the festivities with music provided by high school bands and float topping DJs.
…and guess who was grooving right along to the beat?
The LAPD, was in full effect, led by Commissioners Matthew Johnson, Sandra Figueroa-Villa, Shane Murphy Goldsmith and Chief Beck. Even District Attorney Mike Feuer and LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell came with signature dance steps in the form of support, but amusingly enough, the CHP put on the best show/pre-parade with flashing lights, pop-a-wheelies and synchronized cycling. Like, Why?
Best dance moves, however, go to Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr, Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson & Curren Price; and LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who “floated” to the rhythms of Cool and the Gang and the whole of Motown.
Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles is a lot more than just another parade.
The Kingdom Day Parade honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is the largest and longest-running Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Birthday Celebration in the nation! It’s also the only federal holiday whose central purpose is to celebrate equality and justice for all people and to fight for it using the weapon of love and peace. 50 years after his assassination, have we finally gotten to the mountaintop? As First Lady Michelle Obama would say, “When They Go Low, We Go High”…as in rocky mountain high.
For more information: www.kingdomdayparade.org
