Here is a sampling of in-person and online events and resources honoring the civil rights work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Los Angeles area.
Saturday
Santa Monica Symphony Virtual MLK Holiday Concert: A concert with pianist Leonard Hayes, 2-3 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. Register in advance for the Zoom link on eventbrite (registration closes at 9 a.m. Saturday). www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-monica-symphony-virtual-mlk-holiday-concert-tickets-225647005267
Monday
Leadership Long Beach Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service – Virtual: The group has had to cancel in-person events for the 12th annual “Take a Day On, Not a Day Off” in-person projects for Monday’s holiday. The group has announced two virtual projects: “Silver Letters Project” and “Community Cares Project.” Find out how to join these projects here: leadershiplb.org/mlk. 562-997-9194.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity Walk: The City of Santa Clarita Human Relations Roundtable co-presents the event that includes a program, 9 a.m., followed by a walk through the park. Meet at the flagpole at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. 661-255-4965. www.santa-clarita.com/Home/Components/News/News/10269/1230
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Westside Coalition presents an online program “The Time Is Always Right to Do What’s Right” with keynote speaker LZ Granderson, journalist, music by the Linda Alvarez Trio and spoken word by Get Lit: Words Ignite, 9 a.m. More information on how to watch: www.facebook.com/mlkwestsidecoalition or here www.mlkjrwestside.org
Big Sunday’s 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day New Clothing & Community Breakfast: Join the event in person to donate new clothes and/or help assemble new cold-weather clothing, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Register in advance for how you want to help (bigsunday.org/get-involved/mlkday2022). For those who cannot attend, purchase a sponsorship clothing kit, $25, as a donation (bigsunday.org/get-involved/mlkday2022). Event is outdoors. Participants ages 5 and older must be vaccinated and show proof. Mask wearing is required. Purchase clothing from the Amazon registry and it will be sent directly to Big Sunday: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14JIE3XY7DZ94?ref_=wl_share. Big Sunday headquarters, 6111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 323-549-9944. Email: info@bigsunday.org. Information about the Big Sunday organization, bigsunday.org/about-us/what-is-big-sunday
Redondo Beach beach clean-up: 10 a.m.-noon. A station will be set up by the tower with some cleanup gear, but the organizer asks volunteers to bring their own a bucket, grabbers and gloves if possible. Location is between the Ruby Street Lifeguard Tower and the Redondo Beach Pier. www.facebook.com/events/2751115085034033
King Day 2022: The California African American Museum holds an online program. A King Study Group reads King’s 1967 speech “A Christmas Sermon on Peace,” 11 a.m., followed by a discussion about the sermon. Members of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” spirituals and original compositions, noon. Register in advance online. Facebook for updates (bit.ly/3oq0tLa). The museum, in Exposition Park, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles, is free and open. 213-744-2084. caamuseum.org; caamuseum.org/programs/kids-teens-and-families/king-day-2022
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. – An Online Discussion of the Civil Rights Leader: The Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and the City of Palmdale present a panel discussion that honors King Jr., 2:30 p.m. Community service credit for students who register with their school email. Register in advance for the Zoom link here: bit.ly/3zUcShQ. Details on the discussion and the list of panel participants: www.cityofpalmdale.org
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Tributes to the legacy of King Jr., 3 p.m. Redondo Union High School, auditorium, 631 Vincent St., Redondo Beach. emdee.org/event/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-celebration/
Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere: The City of Carson and the Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation presents the program, 7 p.m. Watch on carsonca.gov
Tuesday
Virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Africana-Asian Collaboratory for Inclusive Excellence Project at Cal State, Northridge hosts a program with Harry E. Johnson Sr., president and CEO of the Memorial Foundation, who discusses the importance of the monument honoring King Jr. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and also how the foundation is promoting the civil rights leader’s legacy, 2-3:30 p.m. Use the Zoom information from here to watch: www.csun.edu/social-behavioral-sciences/africana-studies/events/martin-luther-king-jr-tribute-memorializing
Thursday
Virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Interfaith Celebration: Loyola Marymount University presents guest speaker Susan Burton, activist and criminal justice reform leader, 11:30 a.m. Register in advance for the Zoom link here: bit.ly/33irmw3. Details on the event: bit.ly/3Kacn7V
Online viewing
A King in the City of Angels: Christina Rice, senior librarian, photo collection, has a Los Angeles Public Library blog post from Jan. 15, 2021. See the photos here: www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/king-city-angels. Also, the LAPL has a treasure trove of books on Martin Luther King Jr. for adults and children. Check here for the sampling: www.lapl.org/mlk
Cancelled/postponed events
Gardena: The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade originally scheduled for Jan. 15 has been postponed and tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 26. www.facebook.com/gardenacityhall
Inglewood: The 39th annual “King Fest” scheduled for Monday has been cancelled. www.cityofinglewood.org
Los Angeles: The annual Kingdom Day Parade, presented by the Congress of Racial Equality of California, has cancelled the parade for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. 844-454-6432; 323-934-3683. www.kingdomdayparade.org