FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA.- Thaddeus Culpepper, attorney for former Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight was arrested last night along with another attorney in what appears to be charges related to a pattern of unauthorized – and possibly illegal- disclosures from Knight to the outside world- disclosures Culpepper vehemently denied making many times, including his denial of disclosing Knights alleged statements backing the theories presented in the 2017 documentary “Tupac Assassination: Battle for Compton.”

According to the L.A. Times, in August, 2017 Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged that Culpepper, Knight and others tampered with witnesses and discussed bribes connected to the rap impresario’s murder case. The allegations were detailed in a 22-page court filing.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said Thaddeus Culpepper was arrested at his home around 5 p.m. last night, though she declined to elaborate on the accessory charges filed against Culpepper mirroed that of the other Knight attorney Matthew Fletcher- who was taken into custody at the Long Beach courthouse around 2 p.m. and was being held in lieu of $1-million bail.

In April of 2017, according to a written statement prepared by former LAPD Detective Russell Poole and released after his death, Culpepper had informed Poole and others, including attorneys present, that Knight had specifically endorsed the concepts and theories in the 2017 documentary “Tupac Assassination: Battle for Compton.” . At its core, “Battle for Compton” bucks the claim that Knight was a suspect in the killings of Tupac Shakur and Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace, and presents the theory that Knight was an intended target in the Shakur Killing and blamed for the Wallace killing by several associates of Death Row Records, including alleged involvement by Knight’s former wife and security director in both shootings.

Shortly after the April 2017 release of Pooles claims- including Culpepper statements on his client’s behalf endorsing “Compton”- went “viral”, Culpepper moved into damage control, calling news agencies denying Poole’s posthumous claims, and threatening those who might carry the Poole claims as “fake news.”

According to the LA Times, however, this denial of disclosures- many alleged to be blocked by court order in Knight’s pending LA murder case- are nothing new. The Times claims Culpepper chastised the district attorney’s office and wrote to them in response to allegations of Knight using his attorneys to contact the media, ‘The facts in this case are extremely compelling and overwhelmingly prove Mr. Knight’s innocence. No amount of prosecutorial spin or mudslinging will change that!’

Now that it appears Culpepper may have been doing more than simply amplifying Knight’s endorsement of “Compton” (which happen to provide possible background into Knight’s latest trial); prosecutors now claim Culpepper agreed to pay an informant for “his sworn testimony that he was present at the time of the crime and [witnessed] evidence favorable to the defense.”

This is no surprise to the producers of “Compton.”

” Culpepper was a guy out there doing whatever he could- legally and maybe not so legally- to portray Knight as a victim in his latest trial,” said “Compton” Director RJ Bond.

” And even though he tried to deny making that claim- which he made to many people, including Poole, we think Cullepper said what he said, and looks to be 100% in keeping with what he has been arrested for. Of course he will deny these allegations too.

” But we know he said it, we believe Knight’s current woes may tie to 20 year old events and Culpepper’s statement to Poole moves fluently with what they are trying to do as a defense team. They just look to have stepped into something they can’t threaten their way out of.

” We loved the endorsement because it appeared to be congruent with our message. If you want to know why, watch the movie.”

Watch “Tupac Assassination: Battle for Compton” peel back the layers and reveal the context for the shootings of Shakur and Wallace. It is available worldwide at retailers and online.

(Top Photo: l-r) The Kingdom Day Parade’s Grand Marshal U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Dr. Adrian Dove, President/CEO, Kingdom Day Parade. Photo Credit: Kristina Dixon

(Bottom Photor: l-r) Jurnee Smollett-Bell (WGN’s Underground) and her brother Jussie Smollett (FOX’s Empire). Photo Credit: Louis Kengi Carr

Los Angeles, CA — Thousands of people from every nationality flooded the streets in Los Angeles at the 33rd Annual Kingdom Day Parade to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  California U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris the Grand Marshal walked the 2.5-mile parade route with her Coalition which included actors and celebrities representing Times Up movement; Natalie Portman (Star Wars prequel trilogy), Jussie Smollett (FOX’s Empire), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (WGN’s Underground), Mudbound’s director Dee Ress, United Farm Workers, Korean Resource Center, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. to name a few.

The spirit of diversity embraced the parade and unity was in the air, at the largest and longest running Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Birthday Celebration in the nation! ABC-7 has broadcasted the entire 2 Hour Kingdom Day Parade Live for over 8 years, it now has a media audience of over 2.4 million viewers and listeners.

In deepest respect for the legacy of Dr. King, the parade featured more than 150 units involving over 3,000 individuals which included; the “Kingdom Day Parade Queen & Her Royal Court”, soulful, elaborate floats, marching bands, high school & middle school drill teams, novelty acts, equestrian units, and an exciting turn out of celebrities and community leaders. Waters,

The day began with a breakfast, sponsored by Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza/Capri Capital Partners, LA Dodgers Alumni & LA Dodgers Foundation, and U.S. Bank, that was attended by the Who’s Who in Los Angeles. Kimberly Goode, SVP, External Affairs, Blue Shield of California who was the presenting sponsor, who introduced, US Congresswoman Maxine Waters that was last year’s Grand Marshal, pasted the torch to U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, as she gave a crowd stirring speech. Other attendees included; Anchor Leslie Sykes, KABC-TV; Steve Zimmer, LAUSD Board President & LAUSD Board Member Dr. George McKenna; LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Derrel Thomas & Dennis Powell representing LA Dodgers Alumni & LA Dodgers Foundation, Darrell Brown, Sr. VP, U.S. Bank, Bennett J. Johnson, III, Sr. VP, Capri Capital Partner/Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and countless others.

Dr. Adrian Dove, President and CEO, Kingdom Day Parade, said, “We are proud this year to give special honors to four great Californians: Delores Huerta, VP United Farm Workers, that changed the face of organized labor in America; David Eads and Ed Corey at the helm of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game; and Barbara Morrison, legendary founder of the Blues & Jazz Museum with its Harmony Foundation”.

This year, 2018 would have been Dr. King’s 89th birthday and is also the 50th Anniversary of his untimely Homegoing. Although he never reached the age of 40, his legacy will live forever. This years’ theme, borrowed from First Lady Michelle Obama is: “When They Go Low, We Go High”.

The Kingdom Day Parade’s community and corporate supporters include; its Presenting Sponsor Blue Shield of California, and other sponsors included; media sponsor KABC-TV/ABC 7, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, Denny’s Crenshaw, Covered California, Farmers Insurance, Los Angeles Unified School District, Downtown LA Motors, Felix Chevrolet, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, U.S. Bank, METRO, KNBC 4 Southern California, City of Los Angeles, Office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, County of Los Angeles, 93.5 KDAY, 94.7 The WAVE, 102.3 FM KJLH Radio, REAL 92.3 FM, KPWR Power 106 FM, KTLA 5, LAUSD/Beyond The Bell, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital.

About the Kingdom Day Parade

Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles, is a lot more than just another parade. It celebrates and is centered around the only national and local holiday whose central purpose is to celebrate equality and justice for all people and to fight for it using the weapon of love and peace. In the current year, the mission of bringing people together is needed more than ever. The Kingdom Day Parade and its fiscal agent, CORE-CA has a twelve month focus on bringing people together in harmony the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was conceived more than 37 years ago by the late Larry Grant and businessman Celes King III as a small neighborhood tribute to the life, work, dream, and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was launched in San Diego and after five years it moved up to South Central Los Angeles about the same time another local hero; Stevie Wonder, was culminating a successful nationwide effort that resulted in Dr. King’s birthday becoming a National Holiday, on the third Monday in January of every year. After the untimely death, six years ago, of the original founder Larry Grant, Dr. Adrian Dove, the parade’s then long-time Financial Manager and Chairman of CORE-CA, the parade’s fiscal agent stepped forward to sustain the legacy and has continued at the helm of the parade ever since with the help of a strong team of volunteers and professional staff. Dove is a former field staffer who worked under Dr. King as a Voter Registration Worker in the Deep South during the 60s. Our original group of sponsors and participants have nurtured those humble beginnings which persisted every year, until it evolved into the major iconic event it has become today. Remaining on the same inner-city streets it began on. The Parade is committed to nurturing Dr. King’ s spirit for equality of life, using love and nonviolence as the primary weapon to become a participant, volunteer, sponsor or for more information, visit our website at: www.kingdomdayparade.org

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/kingdomdayparade

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kingdayparade

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kingdomdayparade

Media Contact for photos and interviews:

Edna Sims, ESP Public Relations

310.770.8117 ~ esppr@icloud.com

(Top Photo): Derrel Thomas & Dennis Powell representing LA Dodgers Alumni & LA Dodgers Foundation

(Bottom Photo): KABC 7’s Danny Romero interviews Kimberly Goode, SVP, External Affairs, Blue Shield of California, the presenting sponsor for the Kingdom Day Parade.

Photo Credit: Louis Kengi Carr