King's dream put into action

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat Johnny and Yvet Walker (right) play with their children Karina and Czlarina at the celebration and remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Reid Park yesterday. Members of the community marched to Reid Park from the UA Mall.

About 400 men, women and children of all races carried banners, pulled dogs on leashes and pushed babies in strollers as they walked from the University of Arizona Mall to Reid Park for the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights March.

"Dr. King gave us all hope," said Saundra Taylor, UA vice president for student affairs, welcoming the crowd on the UA Mall.

"King was a man of action, and if he were here today he would tell us to keep marching because we have not reached the mountain top," she said.

Behind a police escort, the crowd marched, singing gospel songs and discussing King's life and legacy.

"King represented ideas like peace and human understanding," said Gladys Ahmad, 58.

"I think these are values that must always be fostered within our community," she said.

Rene Thompson, 21, said he attended the march because he is disturbed with the violence that prevails in society today.

"I came to march because Dr. King represents peace and unity," Thompson said.

About 50 bystanders joined in the march as it moved along East Broadway Boulevard, but organizers said the turnout was still much lower than usual.

Clarence Boykins, chairman of the MLK Celebration Committee, said participation was lower than in past years because the march took place during President Clinton's inauguration.

Boykins said he was invited to attend the inauguration but thought the march was more important.

"This day represents my life, my heritage and a future for my children," he said.

Unfortunately, race still divides the people of America, Boykins said. He said the state of Arizona's hesitation to accept King's birthday as an official holiday is evidence that social equality has not yet been achieved.

King, a civil rights leader, was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. His birthday became a federal holiday in 1986; however, Arizona did not recognize the holiday until 1992.

Ray Davies, chairman of the Rosa Parks Scholarship Fund, said he was disappointed by the lack of participation by UA students at the march.

"I think the UA student body needs a reawakening of what it means to live in a diverse community," he said. "We have a long way to go on campus."

"Every year we have to renew Dr. King's message. We have to renew the principles of human dignity for the next generation," Davies said.

Despite the lower turnout, most marchers said they were pleased with the ethnic diversity of the group.

"This has been a great opportunity to get out and see all types of people that you normally don't see," said Carl Bedford, 48, who was participating in his 10th MLK march.

"I think it's tremendous that we have a true rainbow coalition out here," Bedford said.

ShaDonna Snodgrass, a 16-year-old junior at Sabino High School, said she attended the MLK march because it was a good opportunity to meet other African American people.

"I like seeing all of these black people together because that is something you don't see much in Tucson," she said.

After the march, the group assembled in Reid Park for a civil rights picnic sponsored by the city of Tucson and the MLK Celebration Committee. Speakers read parts of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and bands played jazz, gospel and traditional African music.