Cal State LA returns to MLK Day Parade, reaffirming commitment to equity and community engagement

More than 50 members of the Cal State LA community marched in the Los Angeles Official Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19.

The parade is Southern California's largest celebration of the Civil Rights Movement's most beloved figure, drawing thousands of parade-watchers yearly to South Los Angeles since its inception in 1985.

Cal State LA participated in the parade for the first time in February 2025, prompting President Berenecea Johnson Eanes to say that she wanted it to be a yearly event for the university.

The Cal State LA contingent also included faculty, staff, alumni, and students, including athletes and members of the Cheer Squad. Double alumna Capri Maddox ('91, '95), executive director of the Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department, rode alongside Eanes in an open convertible, waving at the spectators lined up along the 2.1-mile parade route.

"We are honored to be involved in the Dr. Martin Luther King Parade because of all the dreams he had for people of color," said Tina Fernandes, head coach of Cal State LA's track and field and cross-country teams. "It's just an amazing historical event."

Christopher Garcia, a Cheer Squad member and a psychology major, echoed her sentiment: "It's really important to participate and to be part of something special like this event. It is important for us, as well as the rest of Cal State LA, to be aware and to make sure we know where we stand within our community, and to show how culturally diverse and open we are."

The parade began at 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue, weaved through Crenshaw Boulevard and Vernon Avenue, before ending at Leimert Park Plaza. Cedric the Entertainer served as this year's grand marshal.

Previously known as the Kingdom Day Parade, the event was rebranded this year by the new leadership of Bakewell Media, the publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.

This year's theme was "Reclaiming the Dream."

Spectator and Cal State LA alumna Zina Jones was happy to see her university representing at the parade.

"To be involved in something that is part of Black history, it's definitely a great accomplishment," Jones said.

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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.