Martin Luther King Jr. is often remembered most for his dream of one day seeing all races unite. For the past 15 years, a large gathering of students at UA help make that dream come true.

The Martin Luther King Jr. march is open to all members of the UA community who wish to participate.

"It's real important because it's part of history, not just black history," said Korandus Armstead, a family studies junior. "Martin Luther King said that all people should live together in harmony. It would be a shame if only black people were there; that would be contradictory to everything he said."

The march is symbolic of the many groups of people on campus, said Clarence Boykins, president of the NAACP.

Boykins also emphasized the importance of the role students have played throughout history, both alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and in celebrating his beliefs.

"It's important to remember that it was the students who helped make all this happen," Boykins said. "The demonstrations in the '50s and '60s were mostly college students, so having students in the march is symbolic of the movement."

For some on campus, the march will be an opportunity to partake in something outside of the usual campus activities.

"It's important to the campus. It is a rare opportunity for faculty, staff and students to join together in remembrance; we don't really do that for everything," said Lynette Cook-Francis, associate dean of students and director of multicultural programs and services.

Last year, almost 10,000 people attended the march, said associate director of African American Student Affairs Alex Wright.

Last year's march was a memorable experience for participant Erika Jones, a pre-physical education sophomore.

"It was a huge trip; people were holding up banners and shouting out parts of John 3:16," Jones said. "It was a different sort of experience."

This year's march will start on the UA mall at 8:00 a.m., Monday, and will finish at Reid Park, where there will be food, arts and crafts.

University President Pete Likins and Vice President of Campus Life Saundra Taylor are scheduled to speak in commemoration at the event.

The march is sponsored by the UA Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, President Likin's Office, the Office of Campus Life, the department of multicultural programs and services, the Dean of Students Office, African American Student Affairs, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Chicano Hispano Student Affairs.