Earlier this year, Adrian Dove announced his retirement as chairman of Los Angeles’ Kingdom Day Parade—the nation’s largest and longest-running celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For 14 years, Dove has overseen an event that draws more than 200,000 in-person attendees and reaches an estimated 1.4 million viewers on air and online. What he did not announce was what would happen to the parade he has marshaled for more than a decade.
      That decision may be taken out of his hands this week. A subcommittee of the Los Angeles Police Commission’s permit review panel is set to make a final ruling tomorrow after Dove’s long-standing permit was unexpectedly rescinded.
      “I looked up and saw that the police permit division had taken my permit away after it was awarded in June 2025 for January 2026. Then in July, they said, ‘Sorry, it’s been rescinded,” You’re not the first one in,” Dove recounted.” Somebody else has put in before you.’ Then they sent a note back saying it had been awarded to the guy who submitted first, which is Bakewell Media Group.”
      According to Dove, the decision to grant the permit to Bakewell Media, owned by L.A. Sentinel owner Danny Bakewell, is not merely procedural. “They’re saying, ‘We’re taking the permit,’ but it’s more than a permit. The permit simply gives the right to hold the parade at a certain time, place, and date, on specific streets. Now they’re saying I can apply again, but only for any location other than that one, any date other than that date, and any streets other than those.”
      It is a ruling he is appealing for a parade that has, over the last 40 years, become a treasured Los Angeles tradition. Billed as the “world’s largest and longest-running life celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King,” the Kingdom Day Parade has honored King’s legacy by promoting peace, unity, and equality while uniting diverse communities in celebration.
      The parade traditionally features floats, a queen and royal court, elected officials, celebrities, equestrians, and local marching bands, covering a three-mile route beginning at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue and ending near the new Leimert Park subway station. Spectators can watch live along the parade route or tune in to KABC’s broadcast.
      Over the years, past Grand Marshals have included figures such as Stevie Wonder, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters and Karen Bass, Governor Jerry Brown, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmembers Herb Wesson and Curren Price, Steve Harvey, Dodgers star Matt Kemp, Little Richard, and Debbie Allen.
      But Dove, now 90, says he is not stepping aside without a fight. “For the past 23 years I’ve filed an application annually. Each time, it’s been approved without issue. On the only other occasion when someone else applied, they asked me if I wanted to partner with that person, and I said no.
      “We had already gone to ABC and lined up our contract”, Dove continued. “We told them about this situation, and they said, ‘If you move into another time and date, or even another city, we’ll roll with you.’ That doesn’t mean another network wouldn’t carry Bakewell’s parade at the same time, damaging ours. There’s been talk of moving it to Lincoln’s Birthday in February or moving it to Inglewood or Compton. But I don’t want to do that. I even had offers from Caruso’s people, but I said no.
      “The fight may be over the permit, but the permit is the vehicle. It’s about more than the permit. It’s about the brand. I want my brand.”
      The Special Events Permit Unit (SEPU) of the Los Angeles Police Department is responsible for reviewing parade and assembly applications, which are ultimately approved by the Board of Police Commissioners. Tomorrow’s subcommittee hearing is Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Police Administration Building, 100 West 1st Street in downtown Los Angeles at 1pm.
      Members of the public are invited to address the Police Permit Review Panel during the public comment period. Those attending in person will be allowed one minute per agenda item, up to two minutes total.

Remote access is also available via Zoom using the following link: Click Here (Webinar ID: 810 4090 7867).