Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Want to Honor MLK? Here's a List of Fresno Area Events
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 1 year ago on
January 13, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

March. Serve. Sing.

There are plenty of opportunities to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Fresno area this weekend. The official holiday is Monday.

That is when the main event takes place, the annual community march, starting at 10 a.m. The march commences at St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Fresno (2814 Mariposa Ave.). Staging starts at 9:30 a.m.

The march will go past Fresno City Hall and conclude at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

A commemoration program takes place at the auditorium after the march. Marc Philpart from the California Black Freedom Fund is the keynote speaker.

Event Listings

Here is a listing of events, provided by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee, City of Fresno, CA:

Friday, Jan. 13 —Garlanding Ceremony
Welcome by Mayor Jerry Dyer. Featuring Special Guest Superintendent Michele Cantwell-Copher, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in honor of MLK.  This ceremony will also feature the Fresno Unified Black Student Union and King Elementary School dancers. 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Courthouse Park off of Van Ness/Tulare. Contact: Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, (559) 435-2212, or Gail Gaston (559) 681-3140.

Fresno leaders honor MLK last year in a garlanding ceremony at Courthouse Park. (GV Wire File)

Friday, Jan. 13 —Awards Program
Welcome by Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell. Honorees: Educational Leadership Award, Retired Fresno County Superintendent Jim Yovino; Community Leadership Award, Tiffany Binion Mangum; Public Service Award, Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming; and Les Kimber Community Service Award, Central Valley Black Nurses Association. 5 p.m. Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St. Contact: Summer Gaston at summer.gaston-gehris@fresnounified.org.

Saturday, Jan. 14 — Clovis Police Department Community Breakfast
9 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor. California Health Science University 2500 Alluvial Ave. Clovis, CA 93611 (Southwest corner of Temperance & Alluvial avenues (take CA-168 to Temperance Avenue, go north to Alluvial Avenue) Tickets: $5 each (pre-payment required). Contact: Erin Ford-Horio, (559) 324-2476, or erinf@cityofclovis.com

Saturday, Jan. 14 — West Fresno Ministerial Alliance Service
Service 6 p.m. Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2750 S. MLK Jr. Blvd, Fresno CA, 93706. Contact Pastor Bruce McAlister at saintscommunity@sbcglobal.net or Pastor BT Lewis booker.lewis@fresno.gov

Sunday, Jan. 15 — Gospel Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
4 p.m. at Westside Church of God 1424 W. California Ave. Contact: Tiffany Mangum at CentralValleyGIN@gmail.com, Eric Payne at eric.paynecmc@gmail.com. Proceededing this event will be a Candlelight Peace Vigil at 6 pm.

Sunday, Jan. 15 — Candlelight Peace Vigil
6 p.m. at Westside Church of God 1424 W. California Ave. This event will be held after the Gospel Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contact: Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, (559) 435-2212

Sunday, Jan. 15 — Countdown to King Concert & Rally
9:30 p.m.-midnight; This is a free event at The Tower Theater. Contact: edwardthomas858@icloud.com.

Monday, Jan. 16 — MLK Community March
9:15-10:45 a.m., St. Johns Cathedral, 2814 Mariposa Ave, Fresno, CA 93721. Marchers will assemble at 9:30am. March begins at 10 a.m., stops at City Hall then proceeds to Veterans Memorial Auditorium (2425 Fresno St.) where the program will conclude. Contact: James Lett III, (559) 284- 6420

Monday, Jan. 16 — Commemoration Program
11 am., Veterans Memorial Auditorium 245 Fresno St. Celebrating the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to community diversity and our enriched culture. Commemoration Program Keynote Speaker is Marc Philpart of the California Black Freedom Fund. Contact: Terri Kimber Edwards, (559) 908-0639, or email: Eric Payne at Eric.paynecmc@gmail.com.

Wednesday, Jan. 18 — Art, Essay, Speech Contest
6 p.m.; Fresno County Superintendent of Schools will have an MLK Art, Essay, and Speech Contest at Clovis Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. Contact: Dr. Jeff Hunt, (559) 246-4432.

 Thursday, Jan. 19 — MLK Commemoration
Presented by Fresno State African American Programs. 12-1 p.m., Fresno State Peace Garden. Contact: Maria Williams, (559) 278-4435.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Liar, Liar: Potential Trump VP Pick Noem’s Claims Are on Fire

DON'T MISS

What Did State Supreme Court Decide on Defamation Suit Against Assemblymember Soria?

DON'T MISS

Two Months to Count Election Ballots? California’s Long Tallies Turn Election Day Into Weeks, Months

DON'T MISS

Pennsylvania Nurse Who Gave Patients Lethal or Possibly Lethal Insulin Doses Gets Life in Prison

DON'T MISS

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

DON'T MISS

US Employers Scaled Back Hiring in April. How That Could Let the Fed Cut Interest Rates

DON'T MISS

Bulldog Football Outlook: More Explosive Offense, a Potential Game-Wrecker on Defense

DON'T MISS

Over 2,300 Arrested in Pro-Palestinian Protests

DON'T MISS

See How Valley Lawmakers Voted on a Bill That Chills Free Speech

DON'T MISS

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

UP NEXT

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

UP NEXT

Bulldog Football Outlook: More Explosive Offense, a Potential Game-Wrecker on Defense

UP NEXT

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

UP NEXT

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Valley Children’s Gets ‘Historic’ Gift to Boost Cancer Treatments. How Big Is It?

UP NEXT

Family Fun, Community Events Highlight Cinco de Mayo Weekend in Fresno

UP NEXT

Magical ‘Aladdin’ Delivers Magic Carpet Ride and Dad-Joke Humor

UP NEXT

Biden Says ‘Order Must Prevail’ on Campuses, but He Won’t Send National Guard

UP NEXT

Police Dismantle UCLA Tent Camp, Take Pro-Palestinian Protesters Into Custody

UP NEXT

This Classically Handsome Kitty Loves to Play with Anything That Rolls

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Pennsylvania Nurse Who Gave Patients Lethal or Possibly Lethal Insulin Doses Gets Life in Prison

2 hours ago

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

3 hours ago

US Employers Scaled Back Hiring in April. How That Could Let the Fed Cut Interest Rates

3 hours ago

Bulldog Football Outlook: More Explosive Offense, a Potential Game-Wrecker on Defense

3 hours ago

Over 2,300 Arrested in Pro-Palestinian Protests

4 hours ago

See How Valley Lawmakers Voted on a Bill That Chills Free Speech

6 hours ago

Meet Goldie Hawn: The Adorable Yorkie with a Heart of Gold

7 hours ago

Police Investigating Possible Vandalism at Jewish Temple, Catholic Church

17 hours ago

Valley PBS’ Top 2 Executives Departing. Were Their Resignations a Surprise?

Entertainment /

19 hours ago

Unfiltered Clip: Insights from Dr. Trita Parsi on Navigating the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Video /

20 hours ago

Liar, Liar: Potential Trump VP Pick Noem’s Claims Are on Fire

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a possible VP pick on Donald Trump’s 2024 ticket, asserts that she has met with North Korean leader Kim...

21 mins ago

21 mins ago

Liar, Liar: Potential Trump VP Pick Noem’s Claims Are on Fire

42 mins ago

What Did State Supreme Court Decide on Defamation Suit Against Assemblymember Soria?

2 hours ago

Two Months to Count Election Ballots? California’s Long Tallies Turn Election Day Into Weeks, Months

2 hours ago

Pennsylvania Nurse Who Gave Patients Lethal or Possibly Lethal Insulin Doses Gets Life in Prison

3 hours ago

Merced’s Treacherous ‘Tunnel Lane’ Removed from Northbound Highway 99

3 hours ago

US Employers Scaled Back Hiring in April. How That Could Let the Fed Cut Interest Rates

3 hours ago

Bulldog Football Outlook: More Explosive Offense, a Potential Game-Wrecker on Defense

4 hours ago

Over 2,300 Arrested in Pro-Palestinian Protests

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend