40th Annual Kingdom Parade in Los Angeles
It was both a good and great day in Los Angeles on Monday, February 17, 2025. Angelenos were thankful for the President’s Day Holiday as well as it being a beautiful day to be outdoors with plenty of sun and clear blue skies. Let’s not forget that we are also celebrating Black History Month and African American Heritage Month.
By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer
(Los Angeles, CA) It was both a good and great day in Los Angeles on Monday, February 17, 2025. Angelenos were thankful for the President’s Day Holiday as well as it being a beautiful day to be outdoors with plenty of sun and clear blue skies. Let’s not forget that we are also celebrating Black History Month and African American Heritage Month.
Thousands of Angelenos from across Southern California and surrounding neighborhoods were in attendance for the 40th Annual Kingdom Parade. The Kingdom Day Parade is a cherished Los Angeles tradition honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through its mission of promoting peace and unity, the parade unites diverse communities to celebrate Dr. King’s vision of equity and justice for all.
The diverse, multicultural crowd consisted of families who have made attending the Kingdom Day Parade a family tradition each year.
Nominally, the parade would have occurred in January, January 18, to be exact. The parade was postponed, ensuring that emergency resources, including our brave first responders, fire department, and law enforcement, were fully available to address the recent fires.
The 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade was held on Monday in South Los Angeles with the theme “Peace and Unity, Let It Begin with Us.” Attorney Ben Crump served as grand marshal.
KABC 7 broadcasted the parade live from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Marc Brown, Leslie Sykes, and Rachel Brown hosted the broadcast. The parade was also shown on its streaming platforms.
Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (center), (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Several elected officials participated in the Kingdom Day Parade: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Maxine Waters, both D-Los Angeles. Additional parade participants consisted of Senator Steven Bradford, Los Angeles City Councilmembers, and elected officials from the city, county, state, and federal levels, to name a few.
Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol felt and accepted the love and energy from attendees.
Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Michael Cooper, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Cal State Los Angeles, first Black women president led 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.
The parade features colorful floats, bands, marching units, and equestrians. Participants walked in solidarity, celebrated progress, and allowed for reflection on the ongoing work for justice and equality. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS Healthcare nonprofit, participated in the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade with its Stand Against Hate float. The float speaks to AHF’s long-standing commitment to social justice and advocacy. AHF declares, “Racism is a Public Health issue and fits with this year’s parade theme “Peace and Unity, Let It Begin with Us.”
Last month, AHF proudly accepted the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award in Atlanta, Georgia. The award is the King Center’s highest recognition for an organization’s leading work in the social justice arena. Members of the AHF’s Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) Affinity group marched and rode the float along with Thunderbolt Drumline and a Brass Band. This year marks AHF’s 10th year participating in the Kingdom Day Parade.
Metro’s representation in the parade included its replica of the General Motors “old look” bus Rosa Park 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 Kingdom Day Parade started at 10:00 am at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue. The parade traveled west on MLK Jr. Blvd. to Crenshaw Boulevard and south to Vernon Avenue.
Adrian Dove, Parade Chairman and Executive Producer, announced that he will be retiring. The new parade organizers will carry on the tradition. The Kingdom Day Parade is the world’s largest and longest-running life celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Kingdom Day Parade is organized by the Congress of Racial Equality of California, a civil rights organization whose goals include combatting the abuse of police authority and education as civil rights for our youth. “Let’s stand together to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive and continue the fight for a better tomorrow.”
Attorney Crump, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
