Unity was in the air as hundreds of thousands of people marched down Martin Luther King Dr. on the city’s east side to honor the late civil rights leader’s national holiday, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports
“Its a statement to the country that in San Antonio, the spirit, the inspiration of Dr. King remains well,” US Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) told the huge crowd. “We have made great progress, we know much more work remains, but a community united can address it.”
And there were representatives of the entire community at the event today.
Ellen Ollervidez represents the Jewish Community Center.“The Jewish community has always stood side by side with our Black brothers and sisters, we have similar experiences in our history,” she said.
North side Councilman John Courage says this huge, peaceful march speaks volumes about the city.
“I think it is really a testament to what our community is like when it comes together, and our community almost always comes together.”
Labor groups were also marching, behind garbage trucks, buses, and other symbols of their crafts. Several pointed out that Dr. King was in Memphis to support striking garbage workers when he was shot to death in 1966. The local bus drivers union even brought a 1966 vintage bus that Dr. King rode in at one point to the march.
“We know that Dr. Martin Luther King fought for the rights of everybody,” bus driver union head Juan Amaya said. “The unions know how strong a supporter of Dr. King was of organized labor.”
There were also talk of current events at today’s march.
“Having just met with a group of TSA officers, and knowing the challenges that federal workers face across the country, the shutdown is outrageous,” Doggett said. “We have to re-open the government and not treat these people as hostages.”