The annual march and parade in San Francisco honoring the late Martin Luther King Jr. has been cancelled for 2022 due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic.
The website of the San Francisco-based Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation has an alert postponing until 2023 the parade and the music festival at a downtown park that had been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 18. The decision effectively cancels both events.
A child holds a sign during a press conference for Moms 4 Housing members before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
“If they come for any, they have to deal with the many,” banner quoting Martin Luther King Jr. at an Oakland, Calif. march in his honor Monday, January 20, 2020.
Demi Jonson, left, and Aja Morrow, both of 5, Moms 4 Housing members’ daughters, participate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Moms 4 Housing member Dominique Walker holds her son at a press conference before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Moms 4 Housing member Misty Cross reacts at a press conference before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Moms 4 Housing member Misty Cross speaks at a press conference before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Oakland City councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas speaks during a press conference for Moms 4 Housing members before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Oakland Council President Rebecca Kaplan speaks during a press conference for Moms 4 Housing members before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A man bears a sign during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march along 14th Street in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Two children march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Children and other demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators hold a banner during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Children march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Children march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Children march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A child holding a sign participates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march along 14th Street in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A child leads a chant during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march along 14th Street in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A child leads a chant during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march along 14th Street in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators march down 14th Street on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day after a rally held at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A woman leads a chant during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators rally during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators hold up signs as they rally during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators rally during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
A drummer reacts during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators rally during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Demonstrators rally during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Drummers perform during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, January 20, 2020. (Ching Wong/SFBay.ca)
Barbara Ann. Thompson (right), a member of the San Francisco Christian Center, waves along with a choir following a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Tyree Leslie (right), 50, claps along with a choir following a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
SF Mayor London Breed speaks the need for people to participate politically following a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Horace Thomas, 73, talks to Sara Diamond (not pictured), 56, following a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
A child beats a drum along with a drummer following a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
SF Chief of Police William Scott (middle) chats during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Demonstrators march up 3rd Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Steven “King” Royston, a member of Black Brothers Esteem, rolls up 3rd Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. Black Brothers Esteem is an SF AIDS Foundation-based group that provides support African American gay and bisexual men who are at risk of HIV (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
A young demonstrator walks up 3rd Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Young demonstrators cross the Lefty O’Doul Bridge on Third Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
A demonstrator (middle) waves while crossing the Lefty O’Doul Bridge on Third Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Demonstrators cross the Lefty O’Doul Bridge on Third Street during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Demonstrators chant during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Demonstrators chant alongside a stationary Muni train during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
Organizer Mattie Scott (left) hugs Cindy Chang of the SF Interfaith Council as they sing “We will overcome” during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
SF Mayor London Breed (middle, blue coat) waves during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca)
Community leaders greet one another before a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 (Aaron Levy-Wolins / SFBay.ca).
According to the organization’s website, the cancellation is “to support our region’s efforts in fighting the impacts of the latest Covid-19 transmission during the current omicron wave, while at the same time maintaining our commitment to service and community.”
The cancellation in San Francisco follows the announcement one week ago across the bay in Hayward to postpone another parade honoring King.
The city, in conjunction with the Dr. King Birthday Celebration event committee, Hayward-South Alameda County NAACP, Hayward Unified School District and Chabot College, will rebroadcast and stream the 2021 virtual celebration event on KHRT cable channel 15 and on the city’s YouTube channel. The rebroadcast begins at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17.
Event committee members are working with sponsoring organizations and community leaders to schedule an alternative date and location in 2022 to celebrate and recognize King’s legacy.
