Events Set for Martin Luther King Birthday

Although Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday was Wednesday, most school districts have been participating all week in educational activities relating to King’s career as a civil rights activist.

Many schools are observing the national celebration of his birthday by canceling classes Monday. Many banks also will be closed for the holiday. Some local organizations are holding events during the weekend.

In Long Beach, there will be a parade starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue from 10th Street to Pacific Coast Highway. Grandstands will be in front of the California Recreation Center at 1515 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

On Sunday, an interfaith celebration will begin at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 241 Cedar Ave., Long Beach. The presentation will include the reading of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech by representatives from the Latino, Tongan and Islamic communities.

Lynwood will start a four-day basketball tournament Friday honoring King. The annual tournament at Hosler Junior High School, 1300 Spruce St., will have more than 100 participants. Games will be played from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.

Golfers will tee off starting at noon Monday in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day tournament at the Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course in Cerritos. All player spots were full by Wednesday, a golf course starter said.

Many municipalities will observe the national holiday honoring King by closing their offices on Monday. Among the City Hall closures will be Bell, Commerce, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, Lynwood, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Gate, Pico Rivera and Whittier.

City offices in Downey, Artesia, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Cerritos, Cudahy, Huntington Park, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Maywood, Montebello, Paramount and Signal Hill will remain open.