Among the sea of participants in San Antonio’s 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. march, Roadrunner orange brightened the streets.

“We wore orange because we wanted to show that this is a UTSA community,” Mr. UTSA JaCorey Patterson said. “We had these t-shirts made with Martin Luther King, Jr. and our Roadrunner creed printed on it.”

Participants assembled at the M. L. King Academy and began their march at 10 a.m. The nearly three mile route led San Antonians by the thousands through the historic Eastside. Since the first march in 1987, participation has grown to 300,000 people.

Patterson marched with the African American Studies (ASA) department, which facilitated the largest turnout of UTSA students at the march. He explained this is the first time ASA organized a march for the holiday.

“I felt empowered by how many people came,” Patterson said. “I feel like having African American Studies in the march is a big step for UTSA.”

UTSA student participation was not exclusive to the ASA.

Students affiliated and unaffiliated with organizations participated in the celebration.

“It’s our first time out here,” senior education major Adrian Farruggia said about him and his friends, “Getting involved is part of growing up, we came to show that we can be involved in the community in more ways than recreation.”

Brandishing a Mexican American Studies (MAS) banner, senior Alixandria Rowe and fellow students promoted a fight for civil rights, which she described as a huge part of MAS.

“MLK and everything he stood for, like bringing equality, is important to Mexican American Studies too.” Rowe said. “I think we should be united in that fight together, instead of fighting it separately. Black, brown and all people of color should be involved.”

This year’s theme was “King’s legacy for peace is justice for all. Remember! Celebrate! Act!” In commemoration of King, Jr. UTSA exemplified the theme.