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Volume 33 Number 12

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Walter Camp All-American Dinner

BIG NIGHT

David Fulcher wife Judy and Lincoln Kennedy. Fulcher is Fremont high standout and President of Walter Camp Alumni Association. (Earl Heath Photo)

James Cavalieri Educator and Tony Dorsett. (Earl Heath Photo)

David Fulcher and Tony Dorset 1976 WC Player of the Year and Hall of Famer. (Earl Heath Photo)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer We take you to New Haven Connecticut for one of college football’s grandest events. The Walter Camp All-American dinner brought together the finest in the college football.

Former Fremont High standout David Fulcher is head of the Walter Camp Alumni Association. He played at Arizona State and was named WCAA in 1985. He went on to play eight years in the NFL with the Bengals. He was named All-Pro four times and named Defensive Back of the Year in 1989. He had 31 career picks.

“Is great to welcome back all the Alumni back to New Haven” said Fulcher. “It gets better every year. I would also like to thank my wife Judy who is my best friend, she keeps me grounded.”

Baker Mayfield is WC Player of the Year after leading Oklahoma to a College Football Play-off birth in the Rose Bowl.

“I can see what Walter Camp meant to college football. His rule changes and forward pass are why the game is played the way is today,“ said Mayfield. “I can also see what community and family means to the New Haven Community. My few days here have meant a lot.”

Eddie George received the Alumni Award. He was the WC Player of the Year in 1995 and went on to star in the NFL. “After football was over I was able to return to a normal life. I found it’s always good to have the right people around you.” George told the crowd of around 3,000 at the Lanman Center on the Campus of Yale University.

After his football career he received his MBA from the Kellogg school of Management. He started his own company George Enterprise. He also stars in the hit play musical Chicago playing the role of Bill Flynn. He starred in the same role at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles and will appear in New Haven’s Shubert Theatre in June.

The night’s youngest honoree was Noah Aldrich.

The 12 year-old from Boise Idaho participates in triathlon while swimming, peddling and carrying his younger brother. Lucas along. Lucas was born with Lissencephly a rear brain disorder. He has competed in more than a dozen triathlons.

“Lucas can’t do anything by himself so I just wanted to give him these type of experiences,” said Noah. I feel like I’m doing something good and inspiring other people.”

The Atlantic Coach Conference is cornering the market on Coach of the Year. The Conference had three of the last four honors go to David Cutcliff (Duke 2013), Dabo Sweeney (Clemson 2015) and Mark Richt (Miami 2017).

Under Richt’s leadership Miami finished the sseason 10-2 and won their first ACC Coastal title. The 10 wins are the most since for Miami since 2003. “It great to be recognized by so many people here in New Haven, This means a lot to many of us it’s not just me but an entire staff has put a lot of work together,” said Richt.

Former Raider Lincoln Kennedy was recognized as a member of the 1992 WCAA team The Pac 12 Conference was represented by running back Bryce Love of Stanford and O-lineman Cody O’Connell of Washington State. The defensive side included lineman Hercules Mata’afa of WSU and Dante Pettis of Washington (kick returner).

The Walter Camp Foundation is an all-volunteer group in New Haven that has carried on the philosophy of Walter Camp for the Last 51 years. Camp is known as “The Father of American football” he first selected an All-American team in 1889. He was a former Yale University Athlete and coach- he was credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and restructure of eleven men per side.

MLK III: Continuing His Father’s Work

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Nearly 50 years ago, the world lost one of its greatest heroes. That hero’s son, Martin Luther King III, continues his father’s work, taking every opportunity to share his father’s vision, message and mission.

“Today, particularly in light of where the nation stands as it relates to leadership…we badly need to embrace my father’s message and we have to learn to disagree without being disagreeable and my dad showed us how that can be done,” said King.

The eldest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King III was only ten years old when his dad was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968.

Martin Luther King III went on to graduate from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Later, Martin Luther King III became a community activist, county commissioner and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization that his father led as its first president.

Like his father, King has led protest marches and has convened forums on police brutality.

“There’s a barbaric mentality today with police shootings of African Americans, but all of that can change when people rise up, which is why I applaud Black Lives Matter,” King said.

The civil rights leader said that, in this political climate, it will be essential to mobilize diverse groups of people.

“This election coming up in November is important, because we need a stopgap in Congress, because this president doesn’t have an understanding of what goes on in communities of color,” King said.

King continued: “Right now, the Republicans have the presidency, the House and the Senate, but, this coming election creates prospects of one or both houses being flipped to people who would have some sensitivity to issues [related to civil and human rights].”

King, the National Newspaper Publishers Association 2017 Lifetime Legacy Award recipient, is calling on African American groups, Hispanics, women’s organization, the LGBTQ community and others to get out and vote.\

“That is what needs to happen in November so that come January 2019, we can get legislation that will help,” he said.

King said his mother deserves a lot of credit for his father’s success and for keeping his legacy alive.

“My mom is partially responsible for what my dad’s legacy is, today, because she stayed on the battle field and lived 40 years beyond my dad and she was able to establish the King Center just months after he died and this year will be 50 years since she did that,” King said.

He recalled his father’s famous, “I Have a Dream,” speech and declared that the dream has yet to be fully realized.

“The dream has not been fulfilled. There’s an aspect that’s been accomplished, because we have African-American billionaires and that was part of the dream, but we still have African Americans in poverty, we disproportionately lead the pack in every major area whether its heart disease, diabetes or hypertension, because of the level of stress that we as a people are forced to live under,” he said, adding that racism in today’s society contributes to that stress.

“We’ve seen communities from around the world, those that come here and are able to start a business, get a business loan while we’ve been here forever and we’re not able to get business loans,” said King. “This isn’t to suggest that we should have a victim’s mentality. You have to acknowledge the problem and know that you can overcome it.”

Living in the shadows of his dad isn’t easy, but it provides certain unique opportunities to contribute, King said.

“If I attempted to wake up and live in his shoes, I’d fail miserably, but it’s a major blessing to have his name and to try to carry it in such a way to make my parents proud,” he said. “I want to continue the legacy that my parents forged. A legacy of fighting for freedom, justice and equality for all.”

Finally, King reminisced about his father’s close relationship with the Black Press.

“Not just ownership, but the writers for the Black Press. Papers like the Chicago Defender, the Atlanta Daily World, the newspapers in Washington,” said King. “The Black Press was tremendously important then and it is important now, because that’s where we get our information.”

Martin Luther King III said that if his dad were alive today, his biggest concerns would include nuclear war, healthcare and poor communities. (Official Photo/Martin Luther King III)

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Temp Trailers for Homeless Planned in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles leaders plan to house dozens of homeless people in trailers downtown as a possible model for citywide temporary shelters.

The Los Angeles Times reports a proposal that will be submitted to the City Council on Tuesday calls for installing five trailers at a parking lot by summer.

The newspaper says the trailers would house about 67 people and target the homeless population that sleeps on sidewalks in the area.

The shelter would operate for three years with the hope that residents placed there would move on to permanent housing within six months.

The proposal will cost an estimated $2.3 million for the first year. After that, running the shelter will cost $1.3 million annually.

The idea comes from a mayor’s task force to brainstorm on how to get unsheltered people off the streets.

LA County Deputy Charged with Running DrugTrafficking Ring LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with running a drug-trafficking ring.

Federal prosecutors say FBI agent arrested Deputy Kevin Collins on Tuesday in a sting operation. They say Collins thought he was arriving to provide security for a drug deal when he was taken into custody in Pasadena.

Prosecutors say the 50-year-old Collins is charged with twice accepting payments to oversee the delivery of narcotics and other contraband.

The charging documents allege that Collins bragged to undercover agents about his ability to make drug deals go smoothly and make problems go away.

Two other men were arrested with him: 51-yearold David Easter and 34-year-old Grant Valencia.

None of the men have entered pleas, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether they had hired attorneys who could comment.

Largest Wildfire on Record in Finally Contained

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) _ The largest wildfire on record in California was declared contained on Friday, days after mud on the coastal mountain slopes it scorched crashed down on homes during a storm, killing at least 18 people.

The Thomas fire was declared 100 percent surrounded after ravaging Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles for more than a month. A cause has not yet been determined.

Some areas of Los Padres National Forest remain closed to the public until authorities determine it is safe to enter.

The blaze began on Dec. 4 and fierce winds drove the flames through tinder-dry brush, chaparral and trees. The fire blackened 440 square miles (1,140.76 square kilometers) _ an area nearly as large as Los Angeles.

Flames whipped through foothill communities and forest wilderness. More than 1,000 buildings, including many homes, were incinerated and thousands of people were forced to flee.

Evacuations were called for Montecito as flames topped ridges above the wealthy enclave that was hit by waves of mud on Tuesday.

Two people were killed in the fire. Cory Iverson, a 32-year-old state firefighter, died of burns and smoke inhalation while working in steep country above Fillmore.

A preliminary state fire report said Iverson was laying hose line near a firebreak cut by bulldozers when he became surrounded by spot fires that exploded around him and cut off his retreat.

Four other members of his team managed to escape.

Some Montecito families had only recently returned home when another evacuation call went out on Monday.

Forecasters warned that the approaching storm could unleash flooding and mudslides because firescorched areas had lost vegetation that stabilizes soil.

Cascades of mud, boulders, trees and other debris inundated the community, destroying at least 100 homes.

World & Nation

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, January 18, 2018

California Mudslides Kill a Couple of 50 Years, 4 Children

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) _ The oldest victim swept away in a California mudslide was Jim Mitchell, who had celebrated his 89th birthday the day before. He died with his wife of more than 50 years, Alice.

The youngest, 3-year-old Kailly Benitez, was one of four children killed.

As their names and those of 14 other victims were released Thursday, crews kept digging through the muck and rubble looking for more people.

“At this moment, we are still looking for live victims,’’ Santa Barbara fire Capt. Gary Pitney said. But he confessed: “The likelihood is increasing that we’ll be finding bodies, not survivors. You have to start accepting the reality of that.’’

The Mitchells were in love with their home in the seaside enclave of Montecito where they moved in 1995, according to their daughter. They also loved their dog, Gigi, who is missing.

The other children killed were 6-year-old Peerawat Sutthithepn, 10-year-old Jonathan Benitez and 12-yearold Sawyer Corey. None of the adult dead shared their last names.

All of the dead were killed by “multiple traumatic injuries due to flash flood with mudslides,’’ authorities said.

Five people were missing as of early Friday, down from as many as 43 a day earlier, said Amber Anderson, a spokeswoman for Santa Barbara County.

Sheriff Bill Brown gave the larger number Thursday but cautioned that many or most of those people may simply have been unreachable to the family and friends who reported they couldn’t find them.

“We were able to find people,’’ Anderson said, but added that the number could continue to fluctuate greatly . She said some missing-person reports are quickly cleared but others take time to resolve.

Pitney said many rescues were still happening Wednesday and Thursday, but most if not all were of people who were safe but just wanted to get out of the area.\ Among the searchers were more than a dozen firefighters who climbed through rubble in the backyard of a mansion that had been torn apart. Some rescuers used poles to probe the muck for bodies, while others waded chest-deep

in the mire. Two black Labrador retrievers swam around a debris-filled swimming pool, trying to pick up any scent.

Crews marked places where bodies were found, often far away from a home, and used that information to guess where other victims might have ended up as the surging mud carried or buried them.

The mudslide, touched off by heavy rain, took many homeowners by surprise early Tuesday, despite warnings issued days in advance that mudslides were possible because recent wildfires had stripped hillsides of vegetation that normally holds soil in place.

The disaster was already unfolding when Santa Barbara County officials sent out their first cellphone alert at 3:50 a.m. County emergency manager Jeff Gater said officials decided not to send one sooner out of concern it might not be taken seriously.

As the rainwater made its way downhill with gathering force, it pried boulders from the ground and picked up trees and other debris that flattened homes, cars and carried at least one body a mile away.

From an aerial view, the community that is home for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Bridges looked like two vastly different places.

Trashed areas were awash in a sea of mud, with only the tallest trees standing and some homes buried up to their roofs. Next to some of the devastated areas sat large estates untouched by the torrent, their lawns still green and the landscaping lush.

After a better look at the damage, officials lowered the number of destroyed homes from 100 to 64 and raised the number of damaged ones from 300 to 446.

Searchers had checked most of the debris zone for victims and some were doubling back to leave no stone unturned Thursday when a crew ended up in the backyard of Bill Asher, who lost his palatial home and a similar one he was restoring next door.

Asher returned with a pickax and five friends and trudged through the debris to salvage any possession he could find.

He was still shaken by his harrowing experience Tuesday with his pregnant wife and two young children as the violent gusher arrived with a deafening rumble.

“I looked out my front window and saw my car fly by,’’ he said. “I screamed at my family and water started coming into the house. Windows went flying, doors went

To Truly Remember Dr. King, Political Action and Infinite Hope Must Outweigh Anti-Democratic Forces OPINION:

By Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

(D-N.Y.) Often lost in our celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. is his unwavering testimony of hope and his political

Debris and flooded water is shown on Highway 101 in Montecito, Calif., Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. The number of missing after a California mudslide has fluctuated wildly, due to shifting definitions, the inherent uncertainty that follows a natural disaster, and just plain human error. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

flying.’’

The family rode out the storm unharmed on kitchen counters as the debris smashed through the walls and water swirled around them. action in the face of despair and nihilism, forces that have the potential to thwart otherwise transformative movements. We often remember Dr. King’s hope as a more passive “dream” instead of the definitive declaration of “Normalcy, Never Again” which was the intended title of his revered 1963 speech. Nonetheless, no time is riper than 2018 to commemorate Dr. King’s true legacy by exercising political action and demonstrating unwavering hope in the face of circumstances that naturally call for the blues.

No doubt, anti-democratic forces have penetrated American politics and those forces have the potential to breed widespread hopelessness and political apathy. For example, gerrymandering – the partisan act of creating voting districts in favor of one’s own political party – has led to situations like that in Virginia, where 55 percent of voters pulled the levers for Democrats to only lose the House of Delegates by the drawing of straws. These Virginians, and other marginalized voters, could lose hope and sit out future elections conceding that their votes and voices matter little.

Anti-democratic proposals—including a bid by Jeff Sessions to require Census respondents to answer self-incriminating questions about their immigration status— have the potential to discourage participation in a process that determines the size of each state’s congressional delegation and each state’s receipt of federal funds for essential programs like quality public education. Such forces do more to depress civic participation, and they create a disconnected class of Americans, rather than encourage lawfulness.

Many pre-civil rights era measures that suppressed minority voters, like poll taxes and literacy tests, have despicable descendants that plague the modern-day electoral system. Discriminatory voter identification laws, voter roll purges, limitations on early voting procedures, and other impediments to voter registration and ballot casting continue to suppress Americans to this day.

Despite the times, if the legacy of Dr. King means anything, today’s challenges are a call for increased involvement in our democratic process. A number of democratic

“history will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

–– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. victories reaffirm Dr. King’s call to “accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” A recent federal court decision that found North Carolina’s partisan gerrymandered districts, which unjustifiably favored Republicans 10 to 3, unconstitutional provides persuasive arguments as to why the Supreme Court should conclude the same in two pending cases. If the Supreme Court adopts North Carolina’s reasoning, the result may be a more leveled political playing field during 2018 midterm congressional elections, and a more accountable Washington, as a result.

Democratic Senator Doug Jones’ statewide victory in Alabama is also an example of why our infinite hope should always trump finite disappointment, especially in the electoral process. If only a few voters lost hope and decided to sit out the Alabama senatorial race, the result could have been status quo in the Senate during a time where resistance to anti-democratic forces in Washington is needed more than ever.

We must heed the words of the great man we honor today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who warned us that “history will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Political Action Committee, I am inspired by Dr. King’s infinite hope now more than ever before. This year, concerned citizens can make Dr. King’s philosophy real in the voting booth. Lawyers can do the same in the courts, as well as advocates throughout the halls of Congress and state legislatures. If we all maintain hope and action, the outcome will be a more democratic America where our institutions reflect our true values, not the perverted aspirations of the powerful few.

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks represents the 5th Congressional District of New York and is the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Political Action Committee.

Asher’s return to the scene, where murky water was knee-deep, turned up at least one gem: his wife’s engagement ring, the only keepsake she wanted him to find.

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks says that if the legacy of Dr. King means anything, today’s challenges are a call for increased involvement in our democratic process.

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Features

Thursday, January 18, 2018

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A3

NFL Playoff Recap and Predictions

By Cam Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com- sponsored by COAST FITNESS

Now that the NFL Playoffs are in full swing. The Divisional round has been more than expected, by most Football Fans. We’ve seen our first “walk off” playoff win in the NFL as well as the young bucks that continue to impress while upset the veteran team which was expecting to move on to the next round.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia EaglesMost of Americas NFL fans counted out the Eagles after they lost their quarterback, who was playing at an MVP level. Nearly everyone but the Philadelphia Eagles

themselves! Nick Foles didn’t have a record-breaking game, though he played well enough for his team to stay I the football game. In my opinion, this game came down to the 2017 MVP Matt Ryan not being to capitalize on the opportunity they had the win the football game with seconds on the game clock. Although there was some questionable play calling, the Eagles were able defeat the defending NFC Champions and have a chance to claim that title themselves at home this week versus the Minnesota Vikings.

Tennessee Titans vs. New England PatriotsAs expected the New England Patriots were able to focus on the game at hand, while “ignoring the noise” and make it to their 7th straight AFC Conference Champion-

ship? The noise being the controversy between Tom Brady’s personal trainer and the coaching staff. Even though the Titans took an early 7 point lead, the Patriots responded with 35 straight points... To kill any momentum the Titans gained in Tom Brady’s 10th post season game with at least 3 touchdown passes.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh SteelersBecause the Jaguars handed the Steelers one of their worst losses of the season, as this matchup materialized it quickly became one of the most anticipated games of the weekend! The young confident Jaguars jumped to a surprising 21-0 lead on Sunday. Even though Ben Roethlisberger passed for a franchise record 469 yards as the Steel-

Living Well with Dementia in the Community

ers mounted a feverish comeback, the Jacksonville Jaguars proved to be up to the task and did not falter but rather responded to the challenge by standing strong and fending of the veteran Steelers team to move onto their 3rd Conference Championship game.

New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota VikingsWhat a game this turned out to be! These two teams score a combined 29 points in the fourth quarter, while trading the lead 4 times in the final 3:01 of the game. As poor tackling has permeated the NFL, the game-winning play came on what could be called the worse tackle attempt in playoff history. With 10 seconds on the clock, down by 2 points, the Vikings back up quarterback throw a desperation pass to the sideline for Stephon Diggs. Diggs was able to catch the ball at it’s highest point and while the New Orleans Saints Safety completely whiffed on the tackle which would’ve ended the game. Clearly he isn’t a product of Seattle’s Rainier Playfield youth football league where those players were taught to hit and lift the ball carrier, ensure every tackle is made. Nonetheless, this was a fantastic finish which keeps the Vikings hope of playing this years Superbowl on the home turf.

So the matchups are set for the Championship Weekend. Both of these match ups are intriguing in their own right. Please see my picks below and provide your feedback at whatsgoodinsports.com. Let me what you think about my picks and id also like to know what’s good?

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots New England Patriots win

Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles Minnesota Vikings win

NBA Mid Tavis Smiley Announces Season Review/All Deal for New Show Star Game Preview

(NAPSI)—The good news is, Americans are living longer than ever before. While longer life spans bring great opportunities, however, older adults face an increased risk of developing a chronic condition or cognitive disorder.

In fact, one in 10 people age 65 or older lives with some form of dementia. Symptoms include memory loss, language difficulty, a loss of motor function, and difficulty with problem solving.

See A Doctor There’s no cure for dementia but early detection and treatment can greatly improve quality of life. In addition, reversible conditions—dehydration, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies—can have similar symptoms. So if you suspect you or a loved one is exhibiting any of these symptoms, see a doctor.

Resources Available Many people with dementia require supportive services to maintain independence and increase well-being.

That’s where the Eldercare Locator comes in. As the only national information and referral resource for issues affecting older Americans, it connects people who have dementia and their caregivers to a range of services. The Eldercare Locator is a program of the U.S. Administration on Aging, which helps older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices.

Learn More For further facts and advice, visit www.eldercare.acl. gov or call (800) 677-1116.

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By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer PASADENA, Calif. (AP) _ Less than a month after PBS dropped Tavis Smiley’s talk show after reported inappropriate relationships with subordinates, Smiley announced a deal Monday to go back to work with a new series about inspirational stories.

His series, “The Upside with Tavis Smiley,” will be streamed online and shown on The Word Network, a religious-oriented cable and satellite channel directed at black viewers. He also announced a five-city “town hall” tour to talk about relationships in the workplace.

Among the men caught up in sexual misconduct cases the past few months, Smiley has been most aggressive in fighting back and the first to publicly announce plans to resume his career. His new show is expected to start in the spring.

Smiley compared the experience to when he was fired

by BET in 2001 for offering an interview that he had conducted with a newsmaker to ABC News, a corporate competitor. He wrote books about rebounding from setbacks, and launched the late-night talk show with PBS that aired for 14 years.

“I would not wish this experience on my worst enemy,” Smiley said. “Having said that, the last time this happened, great things came out of it.”

Although conceding that what was once considered acceptable in the workplace may no longer be, Smiley has been defiant, suggesting that romances between professional colleagues is hardly unusual. However, PBS investigators reportedly found women who felt their advancement at work was tied to the sexual relationships, an assertion Smiley has denied.

He’ll be a test case for whether fans will be willing to overlook behavior that an employer considered out of

bounds.

By fashioning a new program focusing on inspirational stories instead of more general interest news and entertainment, Smiley will sidestep the issue of whether his downfall would make celebrities reluctant to be interviewed by him.

By striking a digital distribution deal with the media company AerNow and a little-watched cable network, he will also be much less visible.

But Smiley said he believed that going digital positions him well for the future. He also said he'll attract a younger audience than he was getting at PBS, and that he has also struck a deal for international distribution for “The Upside'' and his production company's inventory of interviews that he conducted in the past.

He announced plans for a book and online course in “Leading by Listening.”

His “town hall'' appearances in Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco will have him moderating discussions about acceptable workplace protocols.

“Everyone is saying, ‘We need to talk about this,’ but nobody is doing that,” he said. “Nobody is creating a space for it. Now here I am doing it.”

Smiley said he was motivated to get back to work quickly because of concern for employees of his production company who learned that the PBS show was ending at the beginning of the holiday season.

He said he wasn't concerned that by moving so quickly, he might be missing out on better opportunities if he waited for the story of his firing to fade.

“You can only make decisions based on what’s in front of you,” he said. “You can't make decisions based on what might happen, on what may come.”

He said that as “a black man in America,” he knows that better offers may never come.

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By Cam Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com- sponsored by COAST FITNESS As we approach the mid season in the NBA there have been some teams that have surprised the fans as well as some teams have been less than advertised. We want to share with you what has surprised us so far this season in addition to which teams and players that have not performed to expectations. We will also preview the upcoming All Star voting thus far, including any potential snubs.

At the moment this article was written, the Boston Celtics are one of two teams to have 34 wins. Only three teams have over 30 wins and two of them are in the Western Conference. All this to say, despite the gruesome injury to their Free Agent signee Gordon Hayward it is a surprise to most NBA fans that, the Boston Celtics are leading the Eastern Conference.

Just behind the Celtics, in the Eastern Conference seeding, are the Toronto Raptors with 29 wins. I’m not sure anyone outside of Canada would have predicted them to have this start to the season! Although they recently suffered an injury to one of their premier players in Dion Waiters, the Miami Heat with 24 wins, are currently the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. This would be considered a surprise to most NBA Fans.

The inconsistency of the Oklahoma City Thunder has caught most NBA fans by surprise. They are currently in the 7th seed in the Western Conference, with a record of 22 wins and 20 losses. They have a lot to figure out, whether it’s Billy Donovan and his lack of creativity in offense or the meshing of their new additions in Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, the Thunder have been up and down most of this season. Their erratic play has been a cause for concern for most of their fans throughout the NBA. Though the Los Angeles Clippers have endured an offseason trade, of their 6 year, point guard Chris Paul, the often injured Blake Griffin has expanded his game, to become the preeminent star on the team. As of today, the Clippers are in the 9th seed just a couple game out of making the playoffs. Safe to say that we all expected more from the combination of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in New Orleans. The Pelicans are hovering around the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoff race.

In the 2018 All-Star game, to be held in Los Angeles, the teams will be selected by the player in each conference that gets the most votes. By all reports the selection process will not be televised to the dismay of NBA fans across the globe. Should they reconsider and televise the actual AllStar game draft, I’m sure they would get nearly as many viewers as the actual game itself.

In the Second return of the All-Star voting count and on the final day for the fans to vote, we list the leading vote getters in each Conference: Eastern Conference LeBron James- 1,622,838 Giannis Antetokounmpo- 1,480,954 Kyrie Irving- 1,370,643 Rookies Joel Embid784,287 Ben Simmons397,942 Western Conference Stephen Curry1,369,658 Kevin Durant- 1,326,059 James Harden978,540 Rookies Kyle Kuzma- 325,903 Lonzo Ball294,197 Washington Wizards PG John Wall, Boston Celtics SF Jayson Tatum from the eastern Conference and Minnesota Timberwolves SG Jimmy Butler, PF Karl-Anthony Towns from the Western Conference are on the outside looking in, as this is written. Please let me know if you can identify any other guys who should get voted into the upcoming NBA All Star game, by responding to this article at www.whatsgoodinsports.com. Let me know what’s good!

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Griffin, Clippers Help Los Angeles School Children with Vision Issues LOS ANGELES (AP) — Every student in the Los Angeles Unified School District who needs an eye exam and glasses will be getting them in a partnership with the L.A. Clippers Foundation.

The team, along with owner Steve Ballmer and star Blake Griffin, announced Tuesday that over the next two years LAUSD students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be provided free exams and glasses.

Of the district’s over 600,000 students, an estimated 15 to 20 percent need glasses, but don’t have them in part because their families are low income and have difficulty finding affordable vision care.

“I truly believe in this program,” Griffin said. “If you get behind in first grade, then you’re behind every grade from then on.”

Griffin says he was inspired to join the team’s efforts because his older brother Taylor struggled with poor vision as a child. Taylor Griffin accompanied his brother to Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary in south Los Angeles on

Tuesday.

“I was always so jealous that he got to wear glasses and I didn’t. I wanted to do everything he did,” Griffin said. “I remember thinking about like the next time I go to the eye doctor I might just fudge this test a little bit so I could get some glasses, but I never did.”

Blake Griffin put glasses on a succession of students who lined up to meet him.

“The kids were very, very excited,” he said. “It’s also really cool because they get to pick out their glasses, they get to pick out the color, it makes it like personal for them.

When you get to do something like that and not just wear a generic pair of glasses, I think they really take pride in it.”

The eye exams are underway at all LAUSD schools.

The program includes student visits to Clippers games and future school visits by Ballmer, Griffin and other Clippers.

Three years ago, the Clippers worked with non-profit Vision To Learn to bring vision services to 12,000 students in Inglewood. Last year, the team helped 80,000 students in Long Beach, and now the program is expanding all over Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin signs autographs for kids after giving them new glasses at Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary School, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in the Nickerson Gardens area of Los Angeles, where the Clippers announced a partnership with Vision to Learn and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide students with eyeglasses. Over 600,000 students will benefit from the program. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Frustrating...

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, center, jokes with Yatkermy Artiaga, 11, after giving her new glasses as Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, left, watches at Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary School, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in the Nickerson Gardens area of Los Angeles, where the Clippers announced a partnership with Vision to Learn and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide students with eyeglasses. Over 600,000 students will benefit from the program. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Police Shooting Probes

FILE - In this July 5, 2016 file photo, the Triple S Food Store, the scene of a police shooting is shown in Baton Rouge, La. A deadly confrontation between two white Louisiana police officers and a black man lasted less than 90 seconds. The criminal investigation of Alton Sterling’s fatal shooting by one of the officers has lasted more than a year-and-a-half _ and there’s no clear end in sight. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, File)

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin puts glasses on a student as Los Angeles Unified School District school board president Monica Garcia watches at Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary School, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in the Nickerson Gardens area of Los Angeles, where the Clippers announced a partnership with Vision to Learn and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide students with eyeglasses. Over 600,000 students will benefit from the program. (AP Photo/ Mark J. Terrill)

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ A deadly confrontation between two white Louisiana police officers and a black man lasted less than 90 seconds. The criminal investigation of Alton Sterling’s fatal shooting by one of the officers has lasted more than 1 1/2 years _ and there’s no clear end in sight.

The Justice Department ruled out federal charges against the Baton Rouge officers in May after investigating for nearly 10 months. More than eight months have passed since Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office inherited the case to decide if any state charges are warranted.

The pace of the attorney general’s review has frustrated Sterling’s family. Landry hasn’t explained whether his office is merely reviewing the Justice Department’s files or is gathering additional evidence of its own.

During a Rotary Club speech earlier this week, Landry wouldn’t give a timetable for his office to announce a decision.

He said his staff has been “working diligently’’ since it began reviewing the evidence gathered by federal authorities.

“At the time that we got that information, I know that it was day 380-something for y’all. It was day one for us,’’ Landry, a Republican, said Wednesday in response to an audience member’s question. He added that they’re “working as fast as we can, but we’re going to ensure that the process is done in a very, very thorough manner.’’

Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman Barbara Freiberg, a fellow Republican, was the Rotary Club audience member who asked Landry for an update. His response left her wishing Landry would provide a more detailed explanation for why his office is still reviewing the case.

“It just seems that the community deserves some kind of timeline,’’ she said during an interview Thursday.

Two cellphone videos of Sterling’s shooting on July 5, 2016, quickly spread on social media, sparking nightly protests that led to nearly 200 arrests. The shooting also inflamed racial tensions in the city.

Officer Blane Salamoni shot and killed Sterling during a struggle outside a convenience store where the 37-year-old black man was selling homemade CDs. Officer Howie Lake II helped wrestle Sterling to the ground, but Lake didn’t fire his gun.

Federal authorities said Salamoni yelled that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket before shooting him three times, and then fired three more shots into Sterling’s back when he began to sit up and move. The officers recovered a loaded revolver from Sterling’s pocket. Less than 90 seconds elapsed between the officers’ first command to Sterling and the firing of Salamoni’s final shot, the federal investigation found.

Landry’s office is reviewing the case because East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore recused himself, citing his professional relationship with Salamoni’s parents, both of whom have served as Baton Rouge police officers.

Democratic State Rep. Ted James, who met with Landry in May to discuss the case, expressed doubt that charges will be brought against either officer.

“When it takes this long, folks are looking for reasons not to prosecute,’’ said James, an attorney.

In September, attorneys for Sterling’s family asked Landry’s office for access to unreleased video and audio recordings from the shooting investigation, including surveillance video from the convenience store. On Tuesday, the lawyers filed a subpoena in an effort to compel Landry’s office to turn over the videos and other unreleased evidence.

Landry’s office didn’t immediately respond to the subpoena. However, in a letter dated Oct. 10, Landry said his office couldn’t let them view any of that evidence “in order to maintain the integrity of the state’s investigation.’’ He said his office was still reviewing the “voluminous file’’ it received from the Justice Department.

“Once that review and investigation is completed, we will make a prosecutorial decision based on the facts and the law,’’ he wrote.

L. Chris Stewart, one of the lawyers representing Sterling’s children, said the state shouldn’t have to “redo’’ the investigation unless it felt the federal one “wasn’t sufficient.’’

“They already allegedly did a very thorough review,’’ Stewart said of the Justice Department.

Salamoni’s lawyer, John McLindon, said he has had “minimal’’ contact with Landry’s office.

“I guess they’re just being extraordinarily thorough, as they should be,’’ McLindon said.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Entertainment

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Ava DuVernay, left, accepts the award for the entertainer of the year as Mary J. Blige looks on at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Halle Berry presents the Music Makes a Difference Honor at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/ AP)

Host Anthony Anderson speaks as Martin Luther King Jr. appears onscreen at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

NAACP Image Awards

By SANDY COHEN AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Anthony Anderson and Danny Glover will be in the spotlight at the 49th NAACP Image Awards Monday night.

Anderson is hosting the ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, which will be broadcast live on TV One. Glover will receive the President’s Award for his professional and philanthropic achievements. And Blige and Jay-Z are the leading nominees at the show that recognizes exceptional work by people of color in film, TV, music and literature.

Daniel Kaluuya accepts the award for outstanding actor in a motion picture for “Get Out” at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Jay-Z is up for entertainer of the year honors against Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Chadwick Boseman, Issa Rae and Chance the Rapper.

Producers say Blige, Boseman, DuVernay and Rae are set to appear on the show, along with Halle Berry, Terry Crews, Octavia Spencer and Sterling K. Brown.

Early winners were announced at a pre-telecast ceremony on Sunday evening, where “Get Out’’ creator Jordan Peele won two awards for best film writing and director.

SZA was awarded best new artist in the music category, while the genre’s best artist awards went to Blige and Bruno Mars.

Common performs at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/ Invision/AP)

Omari Hardwick accepts the award for outstanding actor in a drama series for “Power” at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

The cast and crew of “black-ish” accepts the award for outstanding comedy series at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Terry Crews, left, and Jay Pharoah present the award for outstanding actress in a comedy series at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Charlie Wilson accepts the Music Makes a Difference Honor at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Now Available!

Courtyney Kemp Agboh, and the cast and crew of “Power” accept the award for outstanding drama series at the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Edmond McGinley Music

NEW SINGLE AVAILABLE NOW ON

Spotify, Google Play, Deezer, Apple Music and more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CD’s VISIT: If interested in buying a CD Email me at yolandanorwood@gmail.com

Edmond McGinley Music website and Facebook page are below: www.edmondmcginleymusic.com Facebook = @McGinleyMusic

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Recipe of the Week Collard Greens with Ham and Cornbread

There is absolutely nothing more satisfying that a bowl of greens and old fashioned cornbread. This simple yet tasty dish doesn’t need anything else but maybe a few peppers, some hot sauce and there you have it, a meal all by itself!

In a large pot cover ham hock, or smoked turkey with water that barely covers the meat, cover and let cook until tender. In the meantime wash greens thoroughly and add to pot. If water is needed only add a small amount because the water from the greens will cook your greens.

Once tender you can add a green cabbage, onions, salt, onion and garlic powder, Serrano peppers, and about a tablespoon of vegetable oil. It is very important to keep in mind that greens can be as healthy as you like.

If you want healthier greens then you can use smoked turkey instead of ham hocks, and instead of vegetable oil you may use olive oil, coconut oil, or none at all, either way you cook them they’re going to be delicious!

Once cabbage (if desired), has cooked for about ten minutes turn heat off and allow the steam to finish cooking the greens and cabbage.

Cornbread recipe: 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 egg 1/4 cup oil 3/4 cup buttermilk Mix all ingredients together pour into a well greased pan and place into a pre-heated 400 degree oven cook for 20-25 minutes. When done remove from oven and spread butter over the top and enjoy yourself a bowl of greens and cornbread!

Now if you want to take your greens to a whole other level try hot water cornbread instead!

For more great recipes check me out each week or follow my food on my IG page at @yolandsprichett a.k.a The Creative Kitchen

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Seeking Young Musical Theatre Writers

If you’re under the age of 26, and you’re writing for musical theatre, Walt Disney Imagineering and New Musicals Inc. would love to hear from you.

LET US HELP YOU WITH ALL YOUR BUSINESS ADVERTISING NEEDS

(661) 324-9466

New Musicals Inc. in Los Angeles is sponsoring its sixth annual New Voices Project, in which young playwrights, composers and lyricists receive workshops and concerts of their work, with feedback sessions from executives from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment and New Musicals Inc. Selected finalists will have their work presented at an in-house concert at NMI in April and will receive critical feedback from industry professionals. After an opportunity to revise their work, selections by finalists will be presented in concert in Los Angeles in May. Writers are encouraged to submit up to three selections, either from a single work, or separate works, for a total of 20 minutes of material. The staff of New Musicals Inc. will select up to six teams of writers for presentation and critique.

“We’re looking for writers in whom we see potential,” says NMI’s Executive Director Scott Guy. “We’re not pigeon-holing that potential: that is, we’re not looking for ‘Broadway musical’ writers per se, or ‘ground-breaking’ or ‘commercial’ or ‘avant-garde’. We’re looking for writers who are exploring their voices through the blend of music and voice. The stronger your voice and vision are, the more likely we’re going to respond to your work.”

Previous New Voices Project were: Anderson Cook, Amanda D’Archangelis, Luke Davidson, David Gomez, Cristian Guerrero, Edison Hong, Jonathan Horn, Oliver

Houser, Oscar Jacques, David Lancelle, Ariel Mitchell, Andrew Moorhead, Jude Obermüller, Eliot Rhys, Steven Schmidt, Jackson Teeley, Rebekah Allen, Ben Boecker, Benedict Braxton-Smith, Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour, Blake Dylan Pilger, Alex Ratner and Laurel Durning-Hammond, Marina Toft and Benji Goldsmith, Zach Spound, Jacob Combs & Madeline Myers, Bill Nelson and Joseph Trefler, Michael Finke, Mark Sonnenblick, Andre Catrini, Sam Chanse and Bob Kelly, Ben Boecker, Danny K. Bernstein, Santino De Angelo, Zach Zadek, Amar Benkhoukha, Ion Constantine, Nick Jester, Christopher Byron Pratt, and Noah Reece.

“We have been continually impressed with the level of talent of the young writers who have submitted to the New Voices Project in the past,” says Artistic Director Elise Dewsberry. “Just last year, one of our finalist teams - made up of Cristian Guerrero, Andrew Moorehead, and Steven Schmidt, went on to win our annual Search for New Musicals and will be receiving a concert reading of their fulllength new musical Bravo this coming summer.”

Writers may apply online at http://nmi.org/develop/ new-voices-project/ Timeline: Open for Submissions: January 1, 2018 Deadline for Submissions: February 15, 2018 Winners Announced: March 1, 2018 There is no application fee. For finalists who are not Los Angeles locals, participation will be available via video conferencing.

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ognsc.com News Observer Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

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Bakersfield

Volume 44 Number 19

Server Kern County for over 40 years Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary 1977- 2017

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

King’s Lasting Impact on Equity in Education

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King at a rally in Chicago’s Grant Park, in 1966.

Oprah’s Barn Raiser Speech What president?

A year after politics — and the newly elected occupant of the White House — dominated the conversation and tone of the Golden Globes, there was barely a mention of such things at Sunday’s ceremony. This year, it was all gender politics, and of course the #MeToo movement that has engulfed Hollywood and spread into the culture at large with astonishing speed. From the sea of glittering black gowns worn in solidarity on the usually multi-colored red carpet, to sly references to unequal pay and recognition for women, to Frances McDormand’s salute to “a tectonic shift” in the Hollywood power structure, it was a night for reckoning — crowned by Oprah Winfrey’s barn-raiser of a speech proclaiming “Their time is UP!” Some key moments: SERIOUS CARPET TALK: Usually, red carpet interviews focus on the provenance of designer gowns and jewelry. This year, there was talk of working conditions for farmers and janitors, and demands for equal pay across society. Several actresses, including Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and Emma Watson, brought social activists with them , to focus on real-life solutions to gritty problems far from Hollywood.

“We feel emboldened in this particular moment,” Streep said, “to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now.”

LAURA DERN’S NORTH STAR: It was a night of unusually powerful speeches, whether long or short, that touched eloquently on the #MeToo moment. One came from Laura Dern, who won supporting actress for “Big Little Lies,” a TV series that, aptly, depicts not only sexual abuse, but a group of women who only fully discover their power when they unite. Using her character to describe a past culture in which people were afraid to speak out, Dern urged Hollywood to support and employ survivors brave enough to come forward. And she went further: “May we teach our children,” she said, “that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”

A SLY NOD TO A GLARING OMISSION: One of the most glaring snubs in this year’s movie nominations came in the best director category, where Greta Gerwig was passed over for her much-loved “Lady Bird.”

Natalie Portman, presenting the director prize, was not about to let that go unnoticed. “And here are the all MALE

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s influence on the Civil Rights Movement is indisputable, but his fight for equity in education remains a mystery to some.

That fight began with his own education.

“He clearly had an advanced, refined educational foundation from Booker T. Washington High School, Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University,” said Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “His education in his speeches and sermons and writings were apparent and he wanted us all to have that type of education.”

King completed high school at 15, college at 19, seminary school at 22 and earned a doctorate at 26.

“Dr. King laid down the case for affordable education for all Americans, including Polish children—from the ghetto and the barrios, to the Appalachian mountains and the reservations—he was a proponent for education for all and he believed that strong minds break strong chains and once you learn your lesson well, the oppressor could not unlearn you.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), said that NAN works with Education for a Better America to partner with school districts, universities, community colleges, churches, and community organizations around the country to conduct educational programming for students and parents.

“The mission of the organization has been to build bridges between policymakers and the classrooms by supporting innovations in education and creating a dialogue between policymakers, community leaders, educators, parents, and students,” Sharpton said. “We’re promoting student health, financial literacy, and college readiness in our communities, just like Dr. King did.”

King was a figure to look up to in both civil rights and academia, Sharpton told the NNPA Newswire.

“Then, when you look at his values, he always saw education, especially in the Black community, as a tool to uplift and inspire to action,” Sharpton said. “It’s definiteContinued on page A2

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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Mississippi Judge; Racial Bias Suit Against Coroner Can Proceed

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ Six black-owned funeral homes can proceed toward trial with their lawsuit alleging that a Mississippi Gulf Coast coroner discriminates in favor of white-owned competitors, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett on Friday ruled mostly for the plaintiffs, although he dismissed some of the claims against Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove. Ten of the original 13 legal grounds for the lawsuit remain alive.

The dispute revolves around cases where Harrison County pays for a body to be picked up, stored, autopsied or buried, usually at Hargrove's direction.

Starrett wrote that the plaintiffs produced enough evidence that Hargrove treated black-owned funeral homes differently from white-owned funeral homes for the case to proceed. One black funeral home owner has testified that Hargrove once told her that ``white bodies go to the white funeral homes and black bodies go to the black funeral home.''

The plaintiffs told Starrett there's plenty of evidence that Hargrove discriminated against them when directing who would get county-controlled business. ``Defendants have all but completely excluded plaintiffs from receiving mortuary business in their control,'' lawyer Steven Art wrote in November, urging Starrett to let the case go forward. ``Plaintiffs repeatedly have observed the coroner exercise his authority based on race; the coroner has said that his decisions are influenced by race; and thousands of the coroner's own files_produced by the coroner himself and extensively analyzed by plaintiffs and their experts_reveal racial discrimination.''

Hargrove and a lawyer for Harrison County deny discrimination, saying they follow the wishes of the deceased and their families. They say black-owned funeral homes have limited refrigeration facilities, and that a pathologist whom Hargrove didn't control had done all autopsies in the past at white-owned funeral homes. ``The limited exceptions occur when an autopsy is required or when a family member cannot be promptly located necessitating refrigeration of the body,'' lawyer Daniel Seawell wrote in October. ``Hargrove has no control over the sites where autopsies were performed and no control over a funeral home's decision to provide proper refrigeration with sufficient capacity.''

Child Living in Storage Container Dies in Fire BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) _ California authorThis image released by NBC shows Oprah Winfrey accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)

ities say a young child has died in a fire inside a storage unit where a family of five had been living.

Kern County officials say firefighters responding near Bakersfield early Wednesday found the storage unit engulfed in flames.

Thousands Line So. Los Angeles Streets for MLK Day Parade LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Thousands of people lined the streets of South Los Angeles to for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade that is among the nation’s biggest celebrations of the holiday.

Monday’s 33rd annual Kingdom Day Parade down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard was themed ``When They Go Low, We Go High.’’

The theme was inspired by a comment by former First Lady Michelle Obama about what she told her daughters on how to deal with someone who is cruel or acts like a bully.

Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris was grand marshal of the procession that included floats, equestrian teams and marching bands.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell also took part in the parade.