Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes waves and smiles while riding in a parade, wearing a bright yellow embroidered top and holding black and gold pom-poms alongside community participants.

Photo: California State Senator and Cal State LA alumna Sasha Renée Pérez, ’19, and President Berenecea Johnson Eanes lead the Cal State LA contingent at the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade.

Marching Forward Together

Cal State LA celebrates community, culture, and connection across Los Angeles.

By Cicero Estrella

This year, Cal State LA made history and a statement by marching for the first time in not one, but three of Los Angeles’ most iconic community parades: the Kingdom

Day Parade, the LA Pride Parade, and the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade.

Each parade represented a distinct facet of the city’s vibrant identity—civil rights, inclusivity, and cultural heritage—yet, together they conveyed one unifying message: Cal State LA stands with the communities it serves.

A Legacy of Unity

The journey began in February at the Kingdom Day Parade, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
With banners flying high and cheers echoing along Crenshaw Boulevard, President Berenecea Johnson Eanes led the Cal State LA delegation—a spirited group of students, alumni, faculty, and staff—in the 40th annual celebration of unity and progress.

“We are LA,” President Eanes said proudly. “And what’s more LA than celebrating with thousands of people uplifted daily by Dr. King’s legacy of strength, perseverance, and hope?”

Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes rides in a parade car with University staff and supporters waving Cal State LA flags.

Photo: Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach and NBA legend Michael Cooper greet the crowd at the 40th annual Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles.

Basketball Hall of Famer and Cal State LA men’s basketball assistant coach Michael Cooper, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Larry Bohannon, and College of Ethnic Studies’ Interim Dean James Ford III joined the president in the parade, waving to crowds filled with alumni and community members.

The event—themed “Peace and Unity, Let It Start with Us” —embodied Cal State LA’s deep commitment to empowerment through education and equity, ideals that resonate with
Dr. King’s vision.

Pride Marches On

In June, Cal State LA’s black and gold met the colors of the rainbows more than 60 representatives from across campus marched in the LA Pride Parade. The streets of Hollywood shimmered with joy and movement as the University joined thousands in celebrating love, resilience, and the LGBTQ+ community under the theme “Pride Marches On.”

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni danced their way along the route, passing out Cal State LA leis and sharing messages of unity and belonging.

Cal State LA students and staff march in a community parade holding a bright yellow “We are LA” banner, celebrating school pride and inclusivity.

Photo: More than 60 members of the Cal State LA community participated in the LA Pride Parade in June 2025.

President Eanes, joined by student representatives, waved from the University’s car and later told ABC News, “We are delighted to participate in this year’s parade. We are here to support our LGBTQ+ community. Cal State LA is about total inclusivity—we are family. Education is a game changer, and we are incredibly proud to be ranked No.1 in the nation for upward mobility.”

The event also honored “Heroes of the Wildfires,” recognizing first responders and organizations who aided Californians during the devastating fires of January 2025. This is a reminder that compassion and service are core to Cal State LA’s identity.

Honoring Tradition, Education, and Achievement

The University also participated in the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade, one of Los Angeles’ oldest and most cherished cultural celebrations—and one held right in Cal State LA’s own backyard.ltural celebrations—and one held right in Cal State LA’s own backyard.

With the theme “Tradition, Education, and Achievement,” the September parade drew over 20,000 people in a jubilant display of Mexican and Mexican American pride.

A person in a red suit poses with Cal State LA cheer team members holding pom-poms during a community parade.

Photo: California State Senator and Cal State LA alumna Sasha Renée Pérez joins the Cal State LA Cheer Squad in celebration of the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade.

Parade participants dressed in traditional Mexican attire with large monarch butterfly wings celebrate culture and community during a Los Angeles event.

Photo: Celebrants at the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade came brightly dressed in a jubilant display of Mexican and Mexican American pride.

President Eanes rode alongside Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, a Cal State LA alumna and proud representative of the University’s tradition of leadership, while Rosario Marin, former U.S. treasurer and Cal State LA Foundation Board member, served as the parade’s Madrina.

Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes stands with two participants dressed in colorful Día de los Muertos costumes during a community parade.

Photo: More than 20,000 people attended the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade, one of Los Angeles’ oldest and most cherished cultural celebrations.

The Cal State LA Cheer Squad led the delegation with dazzling performances, while volunteers handed out black and gold leis to families along the route. Alumni lined the sidewalks, cheering as Cal State LA passed by—a powerful reminder of the University’s enduring presence and impact in the community.

“Marching in the East LA Parade felt like coming home,” President Eanes reflected. “Cal State LA transforms lives and fosters thriving communities across greater Los Angeles. Our students and alumni embody the spirit of education, tradition, and achievement that this celebration represents.”

Commitment to Communities

From Crenshaw to Hollywood to East LA, Cal State LA’s participation in these parades symbolizes more than celebration—it represents commitment. A commitment to uplift, honor, and stand alongside the communities that define Los Angeles.

Whether honoring Dr. King’s dream, celebrating Pride, or embracing the rich heritage of East LA, Cal State LA marches with purpose—transforming lives, empowering dreams, and carrying forward the legacy of unity, inclusion, and cultural pride that makes Los Angeles, and its Golden Eagles, truly shine.

Cal State LA cheer team marches in a community parade holding a bright yellow “We are LA” banner alongside university mascots.

Photo: “Marching in the East LA Parade felt like coming home,” says Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. “Our students and alumni embody the spirit of education, tradition, and achievement that this celebration represents.”