San Antonio is making ready for a weekend-long slate of occasions main into the thirty ninth annual Martin Luther King Jr. March on Monday, Jan. 19.
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez mentioned organizers intention not simply to keep up the march’s fame as the most important MLK march within the nation, however to deepen its impression for members by specializing in youth engagement and group management.
“This yr the duty was to interact much more individuals and be much more intentional and extra considerate in regards to the takeaways that those that take part within the occasion will stroll away with,” McKee-Rodriguez mentioned in an interview Monday.
Main as much as the celebration is an MLK worship service at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 16, hosted by the New Baptist Ministers’ Union.
On Saturday, Jan. 17, the Freedom Bike Rider Fundraiser will increase funds for native initiatives whereas taking members on a morning bike trip from MLK Park to Southside Lions Park and again.
Later that day, from 11 a.m. to three p.m., the Youth Empowerment Summit will convey a community-rooted, youth-led celebration to MLK Park, situated at 3503 Martin Luther King Drive. The summit will embrace breakout periods, workshops, artwork, group actions, meals and open gathering areas designed for households and younger individuals to interact with native organizations and assets. A keynote tackle from group activist Dieter Cantu will function the centerpiece of the summit.
“As a highschool math instructor, I do know and I’ve seen firsthand the expertise, enthusiasm and the tenacity of town’s youth, ” McKee-Rodriguez mentioned. “I feel the youngsters are gonna stroll away from this summit feeling empowered, and I feel these of us adults, officers and group leaders who’re in a position to attend will take away simply as a lot from the youth when it comes to their concepts for our metropolis.”
Extra occasions deliberate for MLK weekend embrace a wreath-laying ceremony at MLK Plaza on Sunday at 2 p.m. and a citywide interfaith worship service later that night at 4:30 p.m. held at Friendship Baptist Church.
Bus service to the march on Monday will probably be free from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with choose up factors on the Freeman Coliseum Parking Lot 1 and St.Philip’s School; and drop off will probably be on MLK Drive, west of Upland Drive. Buses will return passengers to their unique pick-up places from midday to three p.m. from Pittman-Sulivan Park.
An early morning worship service will kick off day-of celebrations beginning at 9 a.m. Attendees are inspired to convey a non-perishable meals merchandise to donate to the San Antonio Meals Financial institution.
Individuals can start lining up as early as 7:30 a.m. earlier than stepping off at 10 a.m. from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, situated at 3501 Martin Luther King Drive. Marchers will journey roughly 2.5 miles alongside MLK Drive earlier than ending at Pittman-Sullivan Park.
Neighborhood members who’re unable to march are invited to attend the morning reward and worship program from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These with restricted mobility also can view the march from the American Legion Fred Brock Submit No. 828. Army veterans are invited to a espresso social on the American Legion put up from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Following the march, programming on the park will embrace multicultural performances on a primary stage, a well being and wellness space, meals and merchandise distributors, data cubicles and a delegated youth space.
This yr’s celebration will characteristic three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas as its keynote speaker.
She made historical past throughout the 2012 London Olympics at 16 when she turned the primary Black lady to win gold within the particular person all-around gymnastics competitors. She additionally turned the primary U.S. gymnast to obtain each the person all-around gold and group gold medals in a single Olympic Video games.
McKee-Rodrgiuez mentioned Douglas was chosen due to her story as a record-breaking athlete and trailblazer within the sport who confronted criticism over her pure hair whereas on the worldwide stage.
“, individuals weren’t involved about her talent and her expertise and the superb feats that she had achieved. They had been as a substitute involved together with her look, and I feel that speaks to hair discrimination, and it speaks to the expertise of Black ladies throughout the nation and the world over,” he mentioned. “She’s going to be a really well timed perception into our expertise and within the sport and customarily simply as a younger lady in America proper now.”
Douglas will ship remarks and take part in a Q&A moderated by McKee-Rodriguez. Neighborhood members can have an opportunity to submit their questions for Douglas on-line.
In 2024, the march needed to be canceled as a consequence of harmful street circumstances from excessive chilly climate. Related issues arose final yr however the march finally went on as deliberate. Mckee-Rodriguez mentioned the march will happen this yr rain or shine.
“We’ve got a backup plan. We’ve got the whole lot in place,” McKee-Rodriguez mentioned. “The one cause that the march can be canceled or postponed or any change would occur is whether it is totally unsafe for residents to journey to a location.”
