King died Saturday during heart surgery. King championed the cause of underserved communities. He served for years as president and vice chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
CORE organizes and presents the annual Kingdom Day Parade, which celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ABC7 has been proud to broadcast the parade for the last six years.
Rep. Karen Bass issued a statement saying King's passing is a huge loss for the South Los Angeles community.
"Celes was a bridge builder, an advocate and a friend. He stood on the shoulders of a strong lineage of civil rights leaders and he built on their legacy. Angelenos and Californians for generations will benefit from the energy and compassion of this truly extraordinary man," Bass said.
Funeral services for King are still being planned.
