Roadrunners join nation's largest Martin Luther King, Jr. march

(Jan. 13, 2017) -- Roadrunner Nation will lace up its walking shoes to join the city in commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy at the city's 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. The 2.75-mile march is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16 and begins at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Dr.

See the MLK, Jr. March route details.

A Baptist minister, King led the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 60s, encouraging nonviolent activism to inspire and effect peace and racial equality.

"Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the -- if not the -- most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history," said Forrest Wilson, chair of the UTSA Staff Council.

Groups of UTSA faculty, staff and students have historically participated in San Antonio's MLK, Jr. March, organized by the university's African American Studies Program. This year, the UTSA Staff Council collaborated with the African American Studies Program to grow UTSA's participation in the march.

"At the beginning of the school year, the Staff Council began identifying opportunities for staff to further engage in the community," said Wilson. "We felt the MLK March was a great fit for us. Its ideas and values mirrored the same core values we hold high at UTSA."

San Antonio's MLK, Jr. March, the largest MLK march in the nation, is organized by the City of San Antonio MLK Commission. Since the first event in 1987, the march has grown to more than 300,000 participants.

Students and faculty members from the UTSA Department of Music are among the walkers that will be at Monday's march. While there, they will lead others in a grassroots campaign to sing Amazing Grace.

"The idea is to get people to stop for a moment and come together to do something uplifting in honor of someone whose legacy and teaching is so sorely needed right now in our country," said John Nix, the UTSA music professor who developed the grassroots campaign.

Opera singers George Shirley and Jessye Norman will participate in the nationwide singing, which is scheduled on Monday at 11 a.m. CT.

Nix also shared the initiative with folk singers, country singers, choir directors, and religious and political leaders, including former presidents.

He encourages people across the nation to join in the singing and to share their videos on social media, using the hashtag #AmericaSingsTogetherMLKDay.

UTSA's participation in this year's MLK, Jr. March was organized by the UTSA Staff Council in partnership with the university's African American Studies program, Office of the President, Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, Center for Civic Engagement, Student Government Association, African Students Association, Student Leadership Center and Campus Services. Additionally, UTSA Senior Lecturer Karla Broadus served on the City's MLK, Jr. Scholarship Commission.

"At UTSA, we are thrilled to see the level of involvement from our community," said Broadus. "The citywide and UTSA participation growth in the Martin Luther King, Jr. March and activities raising monies for education scholarships truly honors the dream of Dr. King. UTSA marches as we champion education with our presence and MLK scholarship in support of the dream."

Roadrunner Nation is invited to join UTSA at the MLK, Jr. March. Walkers should wear orange t-shirts and meet in front of the MLK Jr. Academy at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 under the UTSA banner.

Bus Service

Complimentary bus service is available for participants of this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. March and may be accessed between 8 and 10 a.m. at two locations:

• Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. (Lot 1)‬
• ‪St. Philip's College, 1801 Martin Luther King Dr. (Lot 22). Lot 22 is at Montana and Mittman Streets.‬‬

The drop-off point for service to the march will be on MLK Dr., west of Upland Dr. Buses will return passengers to the original pick-up locations between noon and 3 p.m. Participants may access return service at Pittman-Sullivan Park, 1101 Iowa St.

Learn more about VIA's bus service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by calling 210-362-2020 or visiting www.VIAinfo.net.

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Learn more about San Antonio's MLK, Jr. March at the City of San Antonio's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission website.

Learn more about UTSA's participation in the march by calling the UTSA Student Leadership Center at 210-458-7967.

Share your UTSA march photos using the hashtags #UTSA, #UTSAEngaged and #UTSAMarches.

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