(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills President Mildred García will serve as the grand marshal of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Kingdom Day Parade on Monday, Jan. 21, in Los Angeles.
“I am truly honored to have been asked to be this year’s grand marshal,” said García, who in August 2007 became the first woman president of Cal State Dominguez Hills and the first Latina president of a CSU campus. “Dr. King was such an inspiration to me growing up that my career in education has been largely shaped by the ideals of social justice, racial unity and equality he so passionately promoted in his lifetime. To have the opportunity to represent a parade that pays homage to his legacy is a privilege.”
Parade founder Larry Grant said he believes in selecting individuals who are making a difference in the community. Past grand marshals have run the gamut from local businesspeople to celebrities to senators, mayors and international leaders. He asked Dr. García to be this year’s grand marshal because of her status as the first Latina CSU president and the impact he believes she will have on the educational success of the region’s diverse population.
“Dr. García was chosen because, like Dr. King, she is breaking down barriers for women and minorities while continuously striving towards the best in education,” he said.
Serving as celebrity grand marshal will be Jermaine Williams, a young African American actor most recently in the movie The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington.
Considered the largest parade in the nation honoring slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Kingdom Day Parade is in its 23rd year marching through South Los Angeles. The procession of floats, bands, drill teams and dignitaries down Martin Luther King Jr. and Crenshaw Boulevards and Vernon Avenue to Leimert Park will be televised live on NBC Channel 4 beginning at 11 a.m. Jan. 21.
For more information about the parade, call (310) 537-4240.
