A Parade Fit for a King : Thousands Turn Out Downtown to Pay Tribute to Slain Civil Rights Leader

Amid booming drums of the U.S. Navy Band and energetic hand-waving from Mayor Maureen O’Connor, the Ninth Annual King Day Parade began its procession Saturday morning along Broadway in downtown San Diego.

Thousands of San Diegans of all ethnicities lined the streets of Broadway between 8th Avenue and India Street to get a glimpse of the city officials, celebrities and community organizations that came to honor the 60th birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Following O’Connor came the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, with 50 multicolored flags of the United States billowing in the brisk January wind. Munching on candied apples and cotton candy, the crowd rocked to the rhythmic thunder of drums and savored the soulful singing of gospel choirs.

“It’s a spectacle,” said Councilman Wes Pratt, who hoisted his 2-year-old son Brion Wesley onto his shoulder for a better view. “Look at the energy and excitement on the faces of the children. And I’m just glad it’s going on downtown. It’s something we can share with San Diego; it’s something San Diego needs.”

Perched in Convertible

County Supervisor Leon Williams, sitting in a blue convertible, proudly said he has participated in every King Day parade.

“The parade honors a great American and a great human being who spoke to the dreams and aspirations of people all over the world, not just the aspirations of black folks,” Williams said. “Everybody is made (more free) by what King did.”

Even the young came to honor King, though they sometimes didn’t have a clear idea of who he was.

Said 11-year-old participant Pat Tapp: “I like (King) because he helped free black people from slavery.”

Tapp was corrected by “Shotgun” Tom Kelly, host of the children’s show “Kid’s Club” on channel 51. “King taught nonviolent demonstration,” he said.

Cheered by Fans

Marsha Warfield, the sassy bailiff on the television sitcom “Night Court,” was heartily cheered by fans as she rode standing through the sunroof of a white limousine. Actress Cyndi James Gossett, who plays the undercover police officer Lexie Brooks on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” also rode down the thoroughfare.

Katherine Mooney, who works at The Gallery Store on Broadway, was a little dismayed that the business didn’t make that much money that morning, but she enjoyed watching the parade from the storefront nonetheless.

“It’s fun to watch. It’s more spontaneous and more interesting than the Columbus Day parade. Maybe it’s because we can relate to (King) more than Columbus.”

The parade, originally held in Southeast San Diego, was moved downtown to Market Street in 1987 to attract participants from throughout San Diego. This year, however, the parade was moved even farther toward the center of downtown.

Parade Sponsor

With its more centralized location, “It’s more of a community parade,” said John A. Houston, president of a local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the group that has sponsored the parade since its inception in 1981.

Alpha Phi Alpha members take pride in being able to claim King, who pledged to the fraternity when he was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, as their fraternity brother. “The parade is our way of celebrating his birthday,” Houston said.

Though critics say the two moves have deterred Southeast residents from attending, Houston feels that the participation has not lessened.

Crowd Sends a Message

The large turnout sends a message that the community is supportive of naming the new convention center for King, Houston said. “The message here is that the participation shows there’s support for naming an appropriate monument after King.”

The City Council has voted to name the convention center after King, but the San Diego Unified Port District commissioners, who have jurisdiction, have yet to vote on the controversial issue.

“I hope this (the parade) is saying we won’t be stopped,” said Dr. Sandra Daley, an assistant clinical professor at UCSD and a pediatrician and medical director of the Comprehensive Health Center in Southeast San Diego.

“We believe in social justice; we’re going to insist on it,” Daley said. “If they don’t let us name the convention center after King, we’ll name something else. We are not going to accept subtle forms of racism.”