2006 MLK Commemoration is Marching Toward the Dream
Largest King March in the nation to honor Dr. King and Rosa Parks

District 2 Councilwoman Sheila McNeil, Honorary MLK March Chair, 2006 MLK Commission Chair Rev. Herman Price and others arrived on a vintage VIA Dreamliner bus today at Pittman-Sullivan Park to detail plans for the 2006 MLK March and commemorative activities. The bus is a symbolic tribute to legendary civil rights figure Rosa Parks and will lead this year’s march, the largest in the nation honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s theme is Marching Toward the Dream.

Organized by the City of San Antonio’s MLK Commission, the march will take place on the official King Holiday on Monday, January 16. Marchers will gather in the 3500 block of MLK Drive on the Freedom Bridge near the Eastside Boys & Girls Club for a 10:00 a.m. departure. The immense crowd, carrying signs and banners, will head west on MLK Drive to New Braunfels Street, then proceed south to Iowa Street and go west to the baseball diamond at Pittman-Sullivan Park, 1101 Iowa.

“This tremendous tribute to Dr. King’s legacy takes place in east San Antonio but in the true spirit of this great civil rights leader, people of all ages, races, professions, and backgrounds from all across this city will march together,” said Councilwoman McNeil.

In 2005, the MLK March drew an estimated crowd of 100,000 people. As in years past, a City garbage truck will lead the way along with the VIA Dreamliner bus. The truck symbolizes continuing civil rights efforts in honor of Dr. King who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, one week after marching in support of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Following the nearly three-mile march, participants will gather in Pittman-Sullivan Park for a program. It will begin at approximately 12 noon with a flyover by the 99th Flying Training Squadron, which when originally activated in 1941 as the 99th Pursuit Squadron became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The all-black flying unit broke racial barriers by becoming the first unit of its kind in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The squadron was inactivated in 1949 and later reactivated in 1988. It is now at Randolph Air Force Base where it continues to train pilots.

 A keynote speech by Reverend Senator James T. Meeks, who represents the 15th District of Illinois, will follow the flyover. Rev. Meeks is senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, one of the city’s largest churches in one of its poorest areas, and executive vice president of the National Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Houston gospel artist Gary Mayes, Cedric Ford (Fabric of a Man), and Olevia Williams will all perform live after the keynote speech.

Mayes will also be featured at a fundraiser service for Hurricane Katrina victims on the eve of the MLK March. Rev. Renard Allen will deliver the sermon at the service on Sunday, January 15, at 7:00 p.m. at New Covenant Baptist Church, 1107 SE Loop 410.

“Nearly 20 Katrina survivors attend New Covenant,” said Chairman Price. “This event will give the MLK Commission an opportunity to say to them we continue to hold you in our prayers and want to extend a loving embrace in a tangible way.”

The concert is one of many commemorative events and activities taking place throughout San Antonio to honor Dr. King. Coordinated under the leadership of the MLK Commission, the events include:

 MLK Art Workshop for middle and high school students at the Little Carver Center, 226 N. Hackberry, on Wednesday, January 11, from 1 - 4 p.m.

 MLK Public Awards Program to announce the recipients of the MLK Distinguished Achievement Award and the Baha’i Unity of Humanity Award on Saturday, January 14, in the City Council Chamber, 114 W. Commerce, at 6 p.m.

 MLK Hip-Hop Summit featuring a panel discussion and workshops on issues affecting youth along with entertainment. Panelists include Jeff Johnson of BET’s Cousin Jeff Chronicles and native San Antonian and author Dr. Maya Rockeymoore. The summit takes place on Saturday, January 14, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at St Philip’s College, Watson Fine Arts Center, 1801 MLK Drive.

 Martin Luther King Jr. Wreath-Laying Ceremony to commemorate the life, struggles and great accomplishments of Dr. King on Sunday, January 14, at 2 p.m. on MLK Plaza at the intersection of N. New Braunfels and E. Houston streets.

 MLK Interfaith Service for people of a variety of religious faiths, with an offering collected to benefit MLK Scholarships on Sunday, January 14, at 3 p.m. at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 4535 Lord Rd. Guest speakers will be Father Eddie Bernal and Imam Omar Shakir.

 Trinity University in association with the MLK Commission presents Randall Kennedy, the Harvard law professor and author will discuss African-American Self Naming on Tuesday, January 17, at 7 p.m. in Laurie Auditorium.

Events listed above and many others can be found in the 2006 MLK Commemorative Calendar available to the public at all City library branches and on the City’s website at www.sanantonio.gov/mlk.

The 2006 MLK March and Commemoration marks the 20th anniversary of the local MLK Commission, which was formed in 1996 and hosted its first march in 1997.

For more information, call 207-7235.