The march lineup begins as early as 7:30 a.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, with the march officially stepping off at 10 a.m.
SAN ANTONIO — For nearly 40 years, the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. March has moved more than feet – it has moved hearts.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather once again, united in purpose and tradition, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King while confronting the work of change that continues, one step at a time.
Even before the first marcher takes a step, the city is already preparing to move. Streets are being readied, volunteers are organizing and longtime traditions are falling into place for one of the largest MLK marches in the nation.
“I thank and I honor the families who continue to come out and march,” said Dr. Doshie Piper, chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. “Who know that being together during the march, engaging in this collective action, is the only way we come together as a city – it’s the only way we resolve our problems.”
The nearly 3-mile route runs along MLK Drive, beginning near the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy and ending at Pittman-Sullivan Park. There, a celebration will cap off the march, featuring keynote speaker Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and a performance by Grammy-nominated singer Coco Jones.
Piper said Douglas’ presence is especially meaningful for young athletes who may be struggling to stay motivated.
“Our young female athletes who oftentimes get discouraged, who oftentimes will quit or give up, who oftentimes don’t want to get up and practice – having someone who has modeled, displayed and exemplified dedication, perseverance and grit, I couldn’t ask for more,” Piper said.
The march lineup begins as early as 7:30 a.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, with the march officially stepping off at 10 a.m. Festivities will continue at Pittman-Sullivan Park, where local vendors and small businesses will have an opportunity to thrive.
“The MLK Commission is modeling how to invest in community,” Piper said. “By allowing our vendors and other individuals to come out and make money that day. And hopefully, hopefully this will be a trend.”
Organizers say parking will be available at St. Philip’s College and the Alamodome parking lot C. Shuttle service to the start of the march will run from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., with return shuttles from Pittman-Sullivan Park operating from noon until 3:30 p.m.
As the city prepares to walk together once again, Piper said the message of unity remains as important as ever.
“We will stand together and show the world that San Antonio is united,” she said. “Yes, we have our problems. Yes, we have things we need to fix, resolve and overcome. But we are ready and willing to do it together.”