KING SALUTED IN WORD, DEED; EVENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO SLAIN LEADER'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.Byline: Douglas Haberman Daily News Staff Writer Millions of Americans will commemorate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. today, just as thousands of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. residents celebrated the slain civil rights leader's life Sunday, two days after what would have been his 70th birthday. An eloquent Baptist minister who used nonviolent protest to further the cause of racial equality, King won the Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish and Norwegian: Nobels fredspris) is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. in 1964. He was shot to death in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968. Because it's an official holiday, most government offices and public schools will be closed today. In one of a series of interfaith and interracial in·ter·ra·cial adj. Relating to, involving, or representing different races: interracial fellowship; an interracial neighborhood. discussions going on citywide in relation to King's birthday, on Sunday afternoon at the Lankershim Arts Center about 40 people weighed in on the debate topic, ``Is Democracy in Danger?'' Some participants expressed feelings about the impeachment impeachment, formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. trial of President Clinton, which they said has them feeling disenfranchised. Others were more concerned about the nation's secularization, which they said threatens the country in a different way. ``We no longer seem capable of controlling ourselves in our pursuit of pleasure, ease and gain,'' said the Rev. Hoang Van Duc, also a physician. ``The quality of life is now more important than the sanctity of life.'' The discussion was part of the city's Days of Dialogue, which brought people together at more than 50 locations between Wednesday and Sunday. Los Angeles Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas started the dialogues in October 1995 to improve race relations after O.J. Simpson's murder acquittal. More events honoring King are scheduled today throughout the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and the rest of the city. In South Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still sometimes called South Central. , more than 60,000 Angelenos are expected to attend the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade. Mayor Richard Riordan will lead the parade from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., riding in a vehicle with four children from the city's after-school program, L.A.'s Best. The San Fernando Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), organization composed mainly of American blacks, but with many white members, whose goal is the end of racial discrimination and segregation. will hold two community forums today at Mount Gilead Baptist Church, 11266 Glenoaks Blvd., in Pacoima. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a youth education forum will cover such topics as scholarships, historical African-American college tours and the NAACP's Afro-Academic, Technological and Scientific Olympics. From 1 to 3 p.m., another forum will address the issue of Valley secession. The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council is putting on its 11th annual commemoration of King with an event called ``Living the Dream.'' Taking place at 7 p.m. at the Campus Center at Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Ave. in Sylmar, the free celebration will include special awards for two Valley youths who embody the spirit and community service of King, said the Rev. Jordan Davis, pastor of Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist denomination (see Methodism). It was established in 1816 in Philadelphia with Richard Allen as its first bishop. In 1991 there were about 3.5 million members in the United States. in San Fernando, the event chairman. In Panorama City, Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, AmeriCorps members and community groups will work on a nine-home Habitat project on Willis Avenue. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1) Wilma Spalding of the United Nations Human Rights Commission talks Sunday. (2) Diana Bruno of the Fair Housing Council of the San Fernando Valley, center, talks at the Days of Dialogue event in North Hollywood. (3) Pam Cysner and Lloyd Wilkey clasp CLASP - Computer Language for AeronauticS and Programming hands during a prayer at Sunday's meeting. Evan Yee/Daily News |
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