AUSTIN, Texas — Hundreds of Austinites celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the annual march through the city and a festival in East Austin.

  • Began on UT Campus
  • Ended at Huston-Tillotson
  • Hundreds attended

The event started Monday morning at The University of Texas campus at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue near the East Mall. After a rally at the statue, marchers headed down Speedway Drive.

"He makes me want to be a better person, because he did things that were really brave and he changed the world," said second-grade student Ella McCain, who marched with her grandmother.

Robert Smith and his son Julius have been going to this event for three years.

“If you don’t remember those civil rights leaders and you forget about them, then you lose the importance that they played in history. I think it’s also important because they’re inspirational for other children, children who can see themselves in these historical figures,” Smith said.

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The march ended at Huston-Tillotson University, where the MLK Community Festival took place. The festival included food, vendors, and performances by local musicians.

“This is really coming from a civil rights perspective and the time we’re living in just really kinda standing up for what you believe in and what’s right and knowing your history,” said attendee Phillip Harris.

“We are meant to be here together, we are meant to take care of each other, we are brothers and sisters in Christ, I believe that we will be able to see the dream all the way through,” said Cassondra McQuaige​, another attendee, who was with her three young children.

The Austin Area Heritage Council puts on the celebration each year. This year, participants were asked to bring canned goods or nonperishable items for donation to the Capital Area Food Bank.

Yvette Crawford, a board member and secretary for the council, said she hopes in the future with more sponsorships they can add more activities celebrating King.

“We want equality, that’s what he stood for, was equality. And we still want equality,” she said.