Tucson’s new mayor, Jonathan Rothschild, spoke and marched in the “Freedom March” from the University of Arizona to Reid Park.
[Note: This article was originally posted on January 18th, 2012. The IFNM website was attacked by hackers and many articles are now gone from the archives. As a public service, IFNM is now reposting said articles.]
As Tucsonans remembered civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, the day was reminding some of another issue they say is part of the civil rights struggle.
It’s the debate over ethnic studies classes in the Tucson Unified School District.
Tucsonans participated in the 26th Commemorative Birthday Celebration.
Dr. King was born January 15th, 1929.
The ceremony started at the University of Arizona. Then marchers headed down Broadway toward Reid Park where the celebration continued.
Many spoke of how far we’ve come, and how our journey has not yet ended.
“I came out there today because I know that a long time ago there was segregation and a lot of racism and I know that Martin Luther King changed that. I’m here to celebrate that,” said 13-year-old Shania Tolliver.
Janet Miller said, “We’re on the edge of the promised land, but we’re not there yet. There’s still too much prejudice. People are not getting a fair shake.”
Continued hope at Tucson’s Martin Luther King Day celebration.
The theme this year: “Hewing a stone of hope out of a mountain of despair.”
A recurring theme also was the controversy over the Tucson Unified School District being forced to eliminate its Mexican-American Studies program.
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