The Iota Phi Theta fraternity started a new tradition this year with its first annual peace march.

Ohio State students joined with the city of Columbus yesterday in a march for peace to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

“Our biggest goal is to bridge the ethnic divide that exists here at Ohio State,” said Earnest Franklin, president of Iota Phi Theta.

The students made their way downtown to the Statehouse, where they joined with marchers organized by the city of Columbus, including Columbus State students.

“We hope to get more colleges to join us within the next few years,” said Larry Williamson, director of the Hale Black Cultural Center.

“Martin Luther King Day isn’t a day that’s traditionally celebrated, so just to have the opportunity to get to march downtown and spread our message to everybody is a great experience,” said Armada Stevens, a senior in communications.

Iota Phi Theta was founded in 1963 around the time of the civil rights movement. The march is seen as a way to continue the tradition and celebrate the legacy of their founders, said Columbus Cotton, vice president of the fraternity.

“Our fraternity’s motto is ‘Building a tradition, not resting upon one,’ and we’re trying to get the campus and city marchers to join forces and show everyone that you can make an impact in numbers,” Cotton said.

The march is especially important this year because of the Sept. 11 attacks, Cotton said. The fraternity invited groups from many different ethnic backgrounds, including Muslim students, in an attempt to unify students from all races and cultures under King’s message of tolerance.

Members of the activist group Columbus United Students Against Sweatshops also joined in the march.

“Martin Luther King Jr. died in Memphis as he was supporting the rights of sanitation workers. We’re here to commemorate him not only for his work toward social justice but for economic justice,” said Mary Beth Tschantz, a senior in history.

Members of Iota Phi Theta said the march will grow in size and participation in the coming years.

“I hope to be able to come back to OSU in a few years and see the tradition that I’ve started here still alive,” Franklin said.