Los Angeles—Thousands of people of various ethnic and racial backgrounds lined the streets of South Los Angeles on Monday, January 16, to salute slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Marchers included Latter-day Saints in Los Angeles organized by the African-American Relations arm of the Southern California Public Affairs Council. They and the LDS missionaries were one of many entries in the annual MLK Kingdom Day Parade, marching in formation wearing white shirts that have become a symbol of service and carrying the banner of the Church through the tens of thousands that looked and cheered on participants.
The 21st annual Kingdom Day Parade kicked off around 10:30 a.m., a little earlier than scheduled, and took on a Mardi Gras theme to honor the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
The parade showcased floats, marching bands, drill teams, and dance groups as it wound its way from the intersection of Western Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Leimert Village Park, where a community festival was held.
"It is an honor to see and be a part of Dr. King's dream," said Phil Medlock, a member of the Long Beach Stake. Dozens of elected officials participated in the parade, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who served as grand marshal, and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown as celebrity grand marshal.
Many attending the festive parade reflected on the social changes King strived to bring through nonviolent measures, beginning with the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, which lasted for 382 days and ended segregation on buses.
King gave his stirring "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The community festival featured a Children's Village with face painting, arts and crafts, and performances for children of all ages. The American Red Cross was also present in an effort to get more blood donations from members of the African-American community. Seventy percent of black people have type O or B blood, the two types that typically fall short, according to Red Cross figures.