On Monday, January 18, 2016, the city of Inglewood will host its 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.
Each year, the city celebrates with speeches from elementary, middle and high school students, as well as inspiring speakers, moving gospel choirs.
“Inglewood’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration is an inspiring event that reflects our community’s continued commitment to the ideas of freedom, equality, and mutual respect inspired by Dr. King,” said Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. “The public is invited to join us in remembrance of this civil rights hero.”
The city will kick-off its 2016 King Day celebration at 9:00 a.m. with a commemorative program at The Tabernacle, located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., under the banner “Dream with a Vision/ Live with a Purpose.”
The King Day event will feature performances by local choirs and community groups, as well as participation from elected officials and special guests. KJLH radio personality Kevin Nash will serve as the master of ceremonies, and Olympic Gold Medalist Althea Moses and actress Laya Haynes, voice of Disney’s “Doc” McStuffins, will serve as Grand Marshals.
The event will include performances by Faithful Central Bible Church’s One Voice and True Praise from The Experience Christian Ministries.
The finale of the event will feature inspirational award-winning speeches from our citywide youth MLK Day speech contest. The winners represent four grade categories including the early elementary (K-2); elementary (3-5); middle school (6-8); and high school (9-12) grade levels. The winners in each category will speak on the topic “Dream with a Vision. Live with a Purpose.”
A symbolic civil rights march will follow after the service beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m.
March participants will leave The Tabernacle and travel a new march route along Manchester Boulevard culminating at the “Fabulous” Forum (corner of Manchester Boulevard and Prairie Avenue).
Inglewood is proud of its march which is designed to reenact the civil rights marches of the 1950s and 1960s.
On the day of the event, access to Manchester Boulevard from Eucalyptus Avenue to Prairie Avenue will be restricted from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
The 2016 King Day activities will continue on the grounds of the “Fabulous” Forum with King Fest, including commercial vendors, interactive games, food and live entertainment provided by our radio and entertainment sponsor, Radio FREE KJLH 102.3 FM. King Fest at the Forum is free to the public and the activities will run from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The city of Inglewood’s King Day celebration is sponsored by Sky Posters, The Madison Square Garden Company, KJLH Radio 102.3, Faithful Central Bible Church, Inglewood Today, Consolidated Disposal Service, West Basin Municipal Water District and the Inglewood Unified School District.
For more information about Inglewood’s King Day Celebration, call (310) 412-8750 or visit the city’s website at www.cityofinglewood.org.
