SAN ANTONIO – More than 300,000 people are expected to march through the city's East Side on Monday to honor the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The march, considered to be among the largest such event in the United States, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in the Alamo City. (Click here to view march lineup.)
The 2.75-mile trek begins at 10 a.m. at MLK Academy in the 3500 block of MLK Drive and end at Pittman-Sullivan Park at 1101 Iowa, where a commemorative program will be held.
MLKWalkingRoute.pdf by David Ibanez on Scribd
"Our annual MLK March is a proud day for our entire community and a humbling moment for each of us. I always look forward to marching with my brothers and sisters from our great city to mark what we've accomplished and to strengthen our resolve and capacity to do more," Mayor Ivy Taylor said.
The commemorative program will feature rapper, actor and activist David Banner as guest speaker, and a musical performance by recording artist Jidenna.
Other events honoring King include a youth summit, a wreath-laying ceremony, a citywide interfaith worship service, musical performances and art exhibit. (Click here for a list of events.)
"This is a monumental year for the MLK commission and the City of San Antonio as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the city-sponsored commission," District 2 City Councilman Alan Warrick said. "We have more partners than ever before, and we expect to have another record year in attendance."
The MLK Jr. Commission, which organizes the march and commemorative programs, will award thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students through the Commission's Dream Scholar Program and Scholarship Fund. The Dream Scholar Program was introduced in 2015 as a call-to-action to San Antonio colleges and universities to each fund one full scholarship to their respective institutions for minority students.
VIA Metropolitan Transit will provide complimentary bus service to and from the march and commemorative program.
Passengers may access free service to the March from 8 to 10 a.m. at Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. (Lot 1) and St. Philip's College, 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. (Lot 22) at Montana and Mittman streets.
The drop-off point for service to the march will be on MLK Drive, west of Upland Drive.
Buses will return passengers to the original pick-up locations from noon to 3 p.m.
Participants may access return service at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
KSAT.com will live stream the march from SKY 12 and from ground level.