San Antonio’s East Side will welcome around 200,000 people on Monday morning for its annual community march honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Last year’s march was rescheduled for the first time ever due to inclement weather, but organizers are ready for this year’s event and expect big crowds.
The San Antonio Police department on Wednesday said they are temporarily banning the use of drones at the MLK March “due to the heightened security concerns surrounding drones throughout the U.S.”
“This restriction is being authorized to enhance public safety and support police operations during the special event. Any drone use at the event is prohibited and the temporary restriction will be enforced,” SAPD wrote in a news release.
Now in its 38th year, the city’s annual march is known as the “largest MLK March in the country,” according to the San Antonio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, a volunteer organization established in 1986 — one that awards thousands in student scholarships each year.
MLK Commission Chair Dwayne Robinson said there will be extra security in place to make sure everyone can march safely and comfortably.
“All San Antonians should be proud of the fact that we have the largest ML King march in the country, but we also recognize that there are still some challenges in our society that we need to try to address,” Robinson said.
The MLK march is known for its diverse crowds marching and singing in unison, many holding hand-painted signs spreading messages of peace and remembering the names and faces of people who have lost their lives in racially-motivated attacks.
“It’s a day that we get to come together as just normal citizens and have conversations about some of the challenges that impact our neighborhoods and our communities and our cities,” he said. “Different types of neighbors get to meet someone that they’ve never met before.”
Many workers around the country, as well as students, will be off for MLK Day, a federal holiday commemorating the civil rights leader’s birthday.
This year’s theme is “We are the dream, it takes all of us.”
The MLK Pre-March Early Morning Worship Service Program starts at 8 a.m., and will end at 10 a.m., when crowds of people will begin marching.
The march follows the same route as always, with people starting at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy at 3501 Martin Luther King Dr. and ending with a celebration at Pittman-Sullivan Park at 1101 Iowa St.
This year’s keynote speaker will be King’s daughter-in-law, Arndrea Waters King, who will be signing books to the newest book she published with her husband Martin Luther King Jr. III, What Is My Legacy?: Realizing a New Dream of Connection, Love and Fulfillment.
Gospel singer V. Michael McKay, seasoned jazz saxophonist BillyRay Sheppard and world renowned violin jazz performer and Sam Houston High graduate Michael Ward will take the stage for entertainment.
“King and a lot of the other heroes and sheroes of the civil rights movement, their efforts were bigger than just for the African American community,” Robinson said. “It may have been primary or it may have been our base, but certainly they were fighting for rights for any American citizen.”
Nearly 7% of San Antonio’s population is Black.
What you need to know before you go
Groups of people start lining up early — before 8 a.m. on Monday. Parking lots surrounding the route fill up fast, so plan ahead. Cars, motorcycles and motor vehicles aren’t allowed in the procession.
The best option is to take a VIA bus.
Get a free ride to the march between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. when you park your car at Lot 1 at the Freeman Coliseum, located at 3201 E. Houston Street, or at Lot 22 at St. Philip’s College at 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. The drop-off point for service to the march is a short walk away on MLK Drive, west of Upland Drive.
Get a ride back to your car between noon and 3 p.m. from the pickup location at Pittman-Sullivan Park. The free event includes a main stage with multicultural performances, a health and wellness area, youth activities area, and many food and merchandise vendors and information booths.
For more events inspired by King, check out the annual citywide summit called DreamWeek, which ends Jan. 26. To see the full list of events, click here.
