Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's an annual tradition, but this year's MLK march through downtown Phoenix wasn't just about honoring the late civil right's leader.

Marchers were calling attention to recent police shootings of unarmed black men.

The March started at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church near 15th Street & Jefferson. The massive crowd made its way through downtown Phoenix.

"It was wonderful, we had a variety of people we were here to support each other and we are here just to be one," said Nadia Jackson. The Jackson family was in the crowd this morning. "With everything that is going on in the world, and raising our son myself, and seeing our males being affected it was important for him to see our community coming together and seeing the positive that this world has," said Xechita Jackson

Even Phoenix's new acting Police Chief took part in the march carrying a torch through parts of downtown Phoenix. This year's march comes as incidents involving unarmed black men and police have sparked debates across the country and here in the valley.

Jay Hoselton and his wife Jo Watson joined the march; Jay was wearing a Trayvon Martin sweatshirt. "Don't want people to forget Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, or Mr. Garner back in New York," he said.

"Equality and civil rights are not just about a black movement, it is a movement about people," said Jo Watson.

Religious groups marched too, including this one made up of members from a synagogue and Christian church.

"It doesn't matter what your background is, it's about finding a commonality, we can find a common ground... I think there is a higher consciousness that there is tremendous injustice in the world, there is tremendous economic injustice in additional to racial injustice, it is not convenient to recognize it, but it is there," said Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman.