LARGE CROWDS GREET KINGDOM DAY PARADE.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer Thousands converged on 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. on Monday as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. high-stepped across 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. with one message: The dream marches on. The 20th annual Kingdom Day Parade drew more than 10,000 mostly African-American residents out on a national holiday to commemorate the slain civil rights leader. ``Glad to see they're kicking it,'' said Judy Peacock, 56, of Los Angeles, as a stomping drill team sauntered past. ``If everybody stood for what Martin stood for, we'd be all right. ``Spreading all the love in the world, that's what it's all about.'' The parade wended its way - from Western Avenue to Crenshaw cren·shaw also cran·shaw n. A variety of winter melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) having a greenish-yellow rind and sweet, usually salmon-pink flesh. [Origin unknown.] Boulevard - along along the boulevard named for 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. winner. For those along its sunny two-mile route, the procession was more than a 3-hour line of some of the city's most celebrated black leaders, organizations and officials. More than the stream of floats, drill teams and twirling Twirling is any of several artforms, hobbies, or sport and recreational activities accomplished by spinning or rotating the twirled object either for exercise, or in a rhythmic, or otherwise artful manner. dance troupes. More than the black American veterans. Church groups. Unions. And the passing waves from Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California and other elected leaders. For parade goers, it was about peace, justice and equality for all races, all symbolized by the late Baptist minister in his ``I have a dream'' speech. ``I have a dream,'' echoed Michael Bivin, 40, of Los Angeles, from a nearby radio booth in the center of black Los Angeles. ``That kids'll stop gangbanging, stop selling drugs, stop doing drive-by shootings. ``And start to love each other - not for what they possess, but (for) what's inside.'' For many, it was a chance to gather their children and coolers for a single community event. ``It's the one day we have no division; it makes me proud,'' said Delores Heard of Los Angeles, as a troupe of flamboyant Hari Krishnas whirled by. For others, it was a chance to honor opportunities granted by King's fight for basic human and economic rights. Danielle King, a 47-year-old teacher from North Hills, said she was glad her forebears were left off in America - as blacks worldwide have it worse. ``For all it's problems, it's the best place to be,'' she said. ``And Martin Luther King put us in that situation.'' ``He made life easier,'' added Tony Ross, 28, a music producer in Hollywood. ``Had he not fought for civil rights, I'd be stuck in Chicago working in a fast food restaurant. I don't even know if I'd be alive.'' ``These kids,'' he said, pointing to the throng of teens lining the curb. ``They can come here and watch this parade and say, `Look at how far we've come "How Far We've Come" is the lead single from Matchbox Twenty's retrospective collection, Exile on Mainstream, which was released on October 2, 2007. The music video premiered on VH1's Top 20 Countdown on September 1, 2007. . Life is what you make it.''' Dana Bartholomew, (818) 713-3730 dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Members of the marching band Noun 1. marching band - a band that marches (as in a parade) and plays music at the same time band - instrumentalists not including string players from James Monroe High School James Monroe High School may refer to:
(2) Crowds line Martin Luther King Boulevard to watch the annual Kingdom Day Parade on Monday. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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