Dozens of San Antonio College students and staff danced, sang and celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in cool, sunny weather Monday morning as they joined hundreds of thousands of marchers who showed up for the city’s 39th Annual MLK March and united behind the 2026 theme: “Diversity Unites Us. Love Leads Us. Action Propels Us.”
SAC’s contingent marched the 2.75 miles from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy to Pittman Sullivan Park, holding a banner, large letters spelling SAC, and signs celebrating the school’s 100 years of education.
Nathan Cruz, president of the Men of Education Student Organization, marched with the Office of Student Life (OSL).
“I used to [march] when I was in Utah, and when I was in the military, I would participate in the events as well,” Cruz said. “I’ve always believed in Dr. King’s message of equality. This is just a continuation of that. ”
The San Antonio march is the largest in the nation, according to Texas Public Radio. After Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, Reverend Raymond Aaron Callies Sr. organized the event in his memory. With only 10 people in attendance, they marched about 1.5 miles from Trinity Baptist Church to what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, laying a wreath in his honor.
Via partnered with the event for fare-free park-&-ride services for those parking at the Alamodome and St. Philip’s College, shuttling attendees to the starting point and back to their vehicles from the park.
Hundreds of organizations and companies participated in the march, including fraternities and sororities that marched together, reciting their respective chants. Onlookers sold food and drinks, cheering the crowd as it went by.
Dr. Lillian Porter, SAC’s Director of High School Programs, marched with the school.
“(Dr. King’s) message today — of unity, of justice and equality and equity — that particular message is going to live forever because it’s the right message,” Porter said. “No matter if anybody tries to squash that message, it’s still the right thing. Don’t allow anybody to stop you from believing the right thing and doing the right thing.”
At Pittman-Sullivan Park, the march’s end point, tents, food trucks and attendees filled the area. Many made their way to the stage to secure a good spot to see guest speakers Gabby Douglas, an Olympic gold medalist, and R&B artist Coco Jones.
A’marie Pollard, who was crowned Miss Black San Antonio 2025, said she believes Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to freedom remains a powerful example of strength today.
“We should stand firm in our beliefs,” Pollard said. “No matter if we’re told that we aren’t right or what we’re doing isn’t going to achieve anything … We’re able to flourish as a community because of [King’s] sacrifices.”
Read Next: Framing the Future – Inside a SAC Staffer’s Legacy of Changing Lives
