City of San Antonio honors life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with annual citywide commemoration

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The City of San Antonio will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with its annual series of events that includes one of the largest Martin Luther King, Jr. marches in the country. A testament to Dr. King's lasting impact on all Americans, this local City-sponsored march annually attracts more than 150,000 participants and ends with a Commemorative Program featuring renowned guest speakers, performers and more.

This year's commemoration continues to be of close, personal significance for San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor. Mayor Taylor previously served as Honorary Chair of the San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission since 2009 as the former District 2 Councilwoman. In July 2014, Taylor was appointed Mayor of San Antonio, and made history by becoming the first female African-American mayor of a major U.S. city.

"Dr. King inspired Americans of all colors and creeds to feel that we were part of something bigger, part of an experiment in democracy and freedom that had yet to be fully realized," said Mayor Taylor. "He challenged each of us to play a role in fulfilling the promises made by the founding fathers at the creation of the United States of America: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

This year's commemoration celebrates the theme, "Marching Together from Past to Present for our Future," with a series of events including: a Youth Empowerment Summit with educational workshops for youth; a Wreath-laying Ceremony honoring the life, struggles and accomplishments of Dr. King; a Gospel Extravaganza to raise funds for the Commission's scholarship program; a Citywide Interfaith Service; and more.

Since 1987, the City of San Antonio has celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. King with annual events and the historic March. This year's March and Commemorative Program take place on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 in San Antonio's historic East Side.

"'Marching Together from Past to Present for Our Future' reminds us that we must not forget the sacrifices our ancestors made in order to give us the freedoms we have today," said San Antonio District 2 Councilman Alan E. Warrick, II. "As we march this year, I am reminded of Dr. King's legacy and dream of equality and justice for all, and everyone's participation demonstrates commitment to continuing this important legacy."

Also as part of its annual commemoration, the San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission administers a scholarship program to help fund a portion of the college tuition of deserving local students, regardless of race or ethnicity. Each year, the Commission awards thousands of dollars in scholarships.

"One of the surest paths to self improvement is higher education," said Bishop David M. Copeland, San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Chair. "The MLK, Jr. Commission is committed to providing educational assistance to those students who desire to be instruments of positive change in our community."

Several nationally-recognized guests are scheduled to participate in the multi-day commemoration, which lasts Jan. 9-24, 2015. Scheduled guests include renowned author, professor and commentator, Dr. Cornel West; Tim Wise, one of the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the U.S.; Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Sr. Pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston; and others.

For more information on the City of San Antonio's annual commemoration, the scholarship program, and a complete list of events, visit www.sanantonio.gov/mlk. 

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SOURCE City of San Antonio