On Martin Luther King Day Parade 2005, as in the past years, there was a huge military and police display on King Blvd, and the usual harassment of the African American youths by the police. It is shameful that the government use the parade to promote the military, especially in the name of King who preached peace and love all his life. Corporations such as Coca Cola and Bank of America were in the parade to supposedly celebrate Dr. King birthday, but they were really self promoting themselves. All we could see on their floats were their corporate logos, names and colors. They were no supporting signs, photos, recording or portrait to commemorate the birthday of Dr. King on their floats. The people on one float were not hypocritical about it. They had this on their sign: Lawry’s Food Celebrates Eating Right With Flavors.

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The takeover of this event by the military and its corporate controllers speaks volumes about how deep the exploitation and cooptation has grown into the African-American community.

Not that it is not in every other community, as well, but the heritage of Martin Luther King is a treasure that few other communities have, and now look at how it has been dragged through the mud.

It also shows just how important it is to defend our history and our culture.

Thanks for taking these pictures. They have really opened my eyes to the extent of the disaster. A community without economic or political power is becoming a people without a history or sense of its own identity.

It must be said though that this event is worlds apart from the Save King Drew event organized by Maxine Waters, which had strong political understanding and integrity, and was not at all polluted by corporate or military influences.
So maybe it is more the MLK day parade and its organizers who are to be faulted for this demoralizing desecration of the legacy of King.