By Nick Diamantides
Staff Writer
Hundreds of people came to the 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace and Unity Parade and Celebration in central Long Beach last Saturday.
Local, county and state officials walked or rode in cars and vehicles that proceeded from Anaheim Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue north to MLK Park. Pastors, teachers, community activists and people of all ages and colors joined the procession as well.
The parade began at 10:30 a.m. The park activities–which included live music and entertainment, food booths, craft and merchandise vendors and activities for children–lasted from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sixth District City Councilman Dee Andrews, one of the event’s key organizers, said he was pleased with the turnout and the way everybody got along.
“Take a look around; we have blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians and we’re all getting along and having a good time together,” Andrews said. “This is the message we are giving. We care about each other. We can live in peace.”
Ironically, only 29 hours after the celebration, on the other side of town, a gang-related shooting claimed the lives of two young men.
The tragedy happened 10:30 p.m., Sunday at a private party being held at Lakewood Masonic Center in East Long Beach near Hartwell Park. Seventeen-year-old Long Beach resident Dennis Moses and 15-year-old Los Angeles resident Breon Taylor lost their lives when uninvited gang members crashed the party and started a brawl which led to gunfire.
Moses and Taylor, who were not gang members, died later at Memorial Medical Center. A third male, 17 years old, was also shot and remains hospitalized with a non-life-threatening wound. His name and city of residence were not released.
As of press time, the incident was under intense investigation, but no arrests had been made.
