200,000 people participated in San Antonio’s annual march commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan 18. The march, one of the largest of its kind in the country, was attended by people of all races, genders, ages, and creeds walking along an almost three mile route. The march has a history specific to San Antonio. In 1987, San Antonio native Rev. R.A. Callies Sr. began the tradition to honor MLK’s legacy. Among those who participated this year were several students from UTSA. Freshman Criminal Justice major Avery Morris said that it was “amazing to see so many people come together to celebrate MLK,” and that the event was a “reminder . . . that while we still have a long ways to go when dealing with racism, we’ve still made so much progress.”

Junior Mexican American Studies major Bryant Andrade Meza has attended the march since his freshman year and appreciates its sense of community.

“My favorite part is arriving at the top of the hill and looking at that giant line of people behind me who made an effort to wake up in the morning to show their support and solidarity for civil rights,” Meza said.