The 15th annual community march celebrating the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the national holiday in his honor will begin at 9 a.m., Monday, Jan. 21 at the King statue on The University of Texas at Austin’s East Mall.
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| Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on the East Mall of The University of Texas at Austin campus. |
| Photo: Marsha Miller |
After a short program, the march will proceed to the Capitol, followed by a cultural festival at Huston-Tillotson University that will last until 3 p.m. The Hon. Wilhelmina Delco, former speaker pro tem of the Texas House of Representatives, and State Rep. Dawnna Dukes will be grand marshals for the march.
Parking will be available at The University of Texas at Austin’s UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the state parking garage at 12th and San Jacinto streets and the Holy Cross Catholic Church parking area at 1610 11th St. Free and continuous bus shuttle service will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. among these three locations.
In previous years, the march has drawn up to 15,000 people, according to the Austin Area Heritage Council, which coordinates the events. The celebration events are co-sponsored by multiple community organizations, including the university’s Multicultural Information Center in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.
In addition to the march and festival, Dr. Leonard Moore, assistant vice president for pre-college youth development and student diversity initiatives in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, will keynote the Applied Materials Youth Legacy Awards. The ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. at St. Edward’s University Ragsdale Center will recognize high school students throughout Austin. Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, senior associate vice president and dean of students, will emcee the program.
Culminating the Martin Luther King celebrations, musician, entertainer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte will deliver the MLK keynote address on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverbend Center on N. Capitol of Texas Highway. Tickets to the MLK keynote address and information on all of the activities honoring King are available online.
