PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, in partnership with Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro and the 2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Celebration Community Advisory Committee, is inviting the community to take part in the 34th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.

“This celebration honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all he stood for as a visionary for civil rights and social justice change,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This is a long-standing tradition for our community, and one we are proud to host once again.”

The 2022 festivities will begin with the parade kickoff at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street, followed by the park celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, located at 1950 Lemon Ave. The park celebration will include a main stage with multicultural performances, a health and wellness area, a youth area, food and merchandise vendors, and information booths.

Residents, organizations and businesses interested in participating must submit a completed parade application by Dec. 20. For more information about the application process, email LongBeachMLK2022@gmail.com.

This year’s theme, “Live the Dream,” was created by the Sixth District Council Office in conjunction with the 2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Celebration Community Advisory Committee, comprised of multicultural leaders within the district.

"It is important we capture the actions of today and shine awareness on the fact that the dream is here. It's alive. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy is visible in the several reckonings our country has witnessed over the last few years,” said Councilwoman Saro. “But we must continue the journey to justice and equality for all, as we revive Dr. King's nonviolent movement.”

More information about the parade and celebration will be available at a later date at longbeach.gov/mlkparade/.