PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, in partnership with Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro, will host the 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration this Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Central Long Beach. Community members are invited to join in the festivities and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Parade Information and Street Closures
The event will commence at 10 a.m. with a celebratory parade led by 2023 Grand Marshal* Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and 2022 Grand Marshals Assistant City Manager Linda Tatum, City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis and the Long Beach Section National Council of Negro Women. The parade will also feature Honorees Mayor Rex Richardson, the first Black Mayor for Long Beach who in 2014 became the youngest person in history elected to the Long Beach City Council, and Honoree Dr. Naomi Pearson-Rainy, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Long Beach Branch, who has dedicated her life serving as a social justice advocate and educator and was recently awarded a key to the City from Former Mayor Robert Garcia.

The parade will step off at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street, then travel northbound up Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and conclude at 19th Street. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue will be closed from 7th Street to Anaheim Street beginning at 5 a.m. on Jan. 14 and will close from Anaheim Street to 19th Street at 9 a.m. to accommodate the parade route and staging areas. Vehicles will be allowed to cross intermittently at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway. All roads are expected to reopen by 1 p.m. View a map of the parade route here.

Community Park Celebration
Following the parade is the community park celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1950 Lemon Ave.). Hosted by the Sixth District Council Office with participation from several community organizations, the celebration will feature speaking engagements that honor the legacy of Dr. King, headliner Mary Jane Girls and other musical performances, a health and wellness area, a youth area, food and merchandise vendors, and information booths. Entry to the park celebration is free.

This year’s musical performance schedule includes the following lineup, with in between sets by DJ Donaldo Reed and DJ B-ROKK:

• 6 Times Soul
• Blue Breeze Band
• Mary Jane Girls

Over the last 35 years, the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration has become a longstanding tradition that celebrates the diverse community of Central Long Beach and serves to honor and keep alive the many values of Dr. King through arts, remembrance and meaningful perspectives.

Event details are available at longbeach.gov/mlkparade/.

*About the 2023 and 2022 Grand Marshals, selected by Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Committee, respectively

• Supervisor Janice Hahn was selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal for her continued leadership and support for the current racial reconciliation movement that has spearheaded Los Angeles County’s efforts and encouraged other local governments to follow.
• Linda Tatum was selected as a 2022 Grand Marshal for her dedication as a City leader – the first Black woman to serve as Assistant City Manager for Long Beach. She joined the City in 2015, serving two years as Director for the Department of Development Services and three years as Planning Manager before being appointed as Assistant City Manager in 2020.
• Dr. Anissa Davis, the City’s Health Officer, was selected as a 2022 Grand Marshal for her steadfast leadership and medical expertise that successfully navigated the City throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Long Beach Section National Council of Negro Women was selected as a 2022 Grand Marshal for their collective work with other community-based organizations to help children achieve academic success, good character and citizenship, and commitment to leading healthy lifestyles for over five decades.

Media inquiries about the parade may be directed to Tasha Day, Manager, Special Events and Filming, at 562.570.5313 or Tasha.Day@longbeach.gov. Media inquiries regarding the community park celebration may be directed to the Sixth District Council Office at District6@longbeach.gov.