Parade, Speeches to Remember Dr. King

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the man remembered for the quality of his dreams, will be honored in parades, community marches, gospel singings, plays and speeches during weeklong festivities.

The events in honor of the late civil rights leader are a prelude to the national observance of King’s birthday Jan. 21. Federal, state, county and city government offices will be closed that day, as well as schools and some banks.

The 11th Annual San Diego Kingdom Day Parade will roll through the streets of downtown beginning at 11 a.m. today. The 2 1/2-hour parade, sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, is said to be the country’s largest in honor of King.

The parade of floats, marching bands, military units, drill teams and celebrities will go from 8th Avenue down Broadway to Pacific Coast Highway.

Celebrities include former football star Roosevelt Grier and stars from TV shows “Family Matters,” “Rock Cop,” “227” and the movie “House Party.” The parade will be broadcast at 11 a.m. Sunday on KUSI (Channel 51).

Also on Sunday, a 100-voice choir from Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles will present a program of spirituals at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 3085 K Street. Now in its sixth year, the program is sponsored by the Bethel Church and Christ United Presbyterian Church, who are joined this year by the Greater San Diego Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Committee.

The committee plans to award two scholarships in King’s name during the program and unveil an economic development program for the African-American community, sponsors said.

Other public events honoring King include:

* On Monday, Montgomery Elementary School at 1601 4th Ave. in Chula Vista will present a program on great American heroes. The Lamb’s Players, a performing troupe from National City, will present skits and dances at 7 p.m., chronicling the lives of outstanding American blacks, Hispanics, Japanese, Native Americans and women.

* On Wednesday, community residents will join children and teachers from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in an hourlong walk to commemorate King’s civil rights marches. The nearly 15-block walk follows a program given in English and Spanish beginning at 10 a.m. at the school, 415 31st St. The program, which includes a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, drill teams and ROTC units, will be presented in front of artist Eddie Edwards’ mural of King.

* On Friday, Knox Elementary School will serve as host for a choir from Lincoln High School and students from neighboring schools at a program beginning at 9:30 a.m. The campus is at 1098 S. 49th St.

“Our main purpose is to make students who were not living during the time of Martin Luther King aware of his activities and his beliefs in fairness and equality,” Principal Myrtle Faucette said. The program follows weeks of classroom lessons in social studies, art and music about King, she said.

The winner of the school’s speech competition will deliver King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. After the program, the school will lead the community in a 1 1/2-mile neighborhood walk to commemorate King’s walks for peace, Faucette said.

* On Jan. 21, the UC San Diego Gospel Choir will present traditional and contemporary gospel music in tribute to King. The 600-voice choir performs at 8 p.m. in Mandeville Auditorium on campus. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Tickets are available through the campus box office or at the door. For concert information, call 534-3229.