Long Beach residents and city officials marched together for peace along neighborhood streets during the city's sixth annual Peace March at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Saturday.

The event kicked off a weeklong celebration of peace, demonstrating Dr. King's dream of peace and unity, said 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews.

"This Peace March provides the community an opportunity to stand united," he said. "Walking together, we represent peace, love, and understanding, which is the true meaning of community. This is what Dr. Martin Luther King lived and died for - diversity."

The week of celebration will close out Saturday with the 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade Celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the park.

Free parking will be available at Long Beach City College. For more information on Peace Week activities call 562-570-6816 or visit www.long beach.gov/district6.


At the sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Peace March on Jan. 12, 2013, at MLK Park in Long Beach, Christopher Ing, 10, center, joins family and community members in honoring the civil rights champion. (LANG Staff Photo by Sean Hiller)


Community members gather at dusk for the sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Peace March on Jan. 12, 2013, at MLK Park in Long Beach. (LANG Staff Photo by Sean Hiller)