Tens of thousands of people gathered along Martin Luther King Drive on Monday to march nearly three miles in remembrance of the civil rights leader.
Gospel music, cheers and chants like “this is what community looks like” filled the air while marchers made the trek through the city’s East Side from the MLK Jr. Academy for Arts Integration toward Pittman-Sullivan park.
The San Antonio march, known for being the biggest MLK Jr. event in the country, celebrated its 39th anniversary this year.
After the march, participants congregated at Pittman-Sullivan Park for a keynote address from three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and a performance from Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones. Other multicultural dance and music performances continued throughout the day along with food and ware vendors.
Here are some of the sights seen at this year’s event.
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March participants line up at the Alamodome Lot C to take a free bus ride to the MLK Jr. march starting point on the East Side on Monday morning. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Second-year march participants Leroy Adams and Chilaeya Ezell utilize the free bus services from the Alamodome to get dropped off at the route starting point near the MLK Jr. Academy. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Security officers stationed at the beginning of the march route near the MLK Jr. Academy early in the day. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
March participants took turns holding and carrying a giant rainbow flag throughout the march route toward Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Supporters cheer on marchers outside of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church along Martin Luther King Drive on Monday. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Lindsey Seals watches marchers from atop his horse Coco near Wheatley Avenue. Seals has been participating in the event for the last 15 years and began bringing his now-teenage granddaughters when they were 2. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Marchers make their way down Martin Luther King Drive and past a mural along the march route at the intersection of South Geevers Street. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Many march attendees took the opportunity to climb atop the Coleman Underpass to get photos and videos of participants making their way toward Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Volunteers sit outside the home of Janice Brock, who was been distributing water bottles to march participants for the last 16 years. Brock said she began distributing water bottles when she could no longer walk in the march herself but still wanted to remain involved. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Marchers carrying flags symbolizing gay pride travel along Martin Luther King Drive toward Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Brothers Trenton and Gianni Evans-Williams make a stop at Skinny Black Barbecue restaurant to get a photo with music performer Stormy Weather, center, along the march route. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Many of the churches along the MLK Jr. march route greeted and cheered on participants. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Residents rest outside of a home on Martin Luther King Drive, watching the marchers go by. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas records a video of District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez dancing on stage ahead of their fireside chat at Pittman-Sullivan Park on Monday. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Christopher Simmons, owner of Dallas-based Culinary Oasis Barbecue, chops brisket for hungry marchers at Pittman-Sullivan Park on Monday. Simmons said his wife, who is a San Antonio native, encouraged them to participate in the city’s MLK Jr. march about five years ago, and they have returned year after year ever since. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
March attendees Marrell Woodruff, Tammy Sullivan, Jackie Henderson and Henrietta Jones line up along the stage barricade to watch the live music performances, carrying instruments and signs to shake along to with the music. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Sylvia Engle sings along to a live gospel performance from the bleachers near the stage at Pittman-Sullivan Park. This is Engle’s third year attending the march and says she attends to show appreciation to MLK Jr. for the societal changes he made during the Civil Rights movement. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Children rest and play at the base of the Douglas Kornfeld statue titled “Open Hand, Open Mind, Open Heart” at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Yvonne James, right, and Janet Hurt clap along to a gospel song near the stage at Pittman-Sullivan Park. James has participated in the march since its inception and says she has never missed a year. Hurt says she could not remember how long she’s been attending but returns year after year to participate and support her community. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
March attendees and participants rest to eat and chat outside a home on Martin Luther King Drive near Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Fans and march participants line up along the stage barricade ahead of Coco Jones’ set at Pittman-Sullivan Park on Monday. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones closed out the MLK Jr. Day festivities with a live music performance at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez dances in the crowd during Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones’ performance at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Credit: Amber Esparza / San Antonio Report
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Tagged: Martin Luther King Jr., MLK March, san antonio martin luther king march, top story, type:daily