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Arizona Daily Wildcat
The independent student voice of the University of Arizona since 1899
tucson, arizona
dailywildcat.com
tuesday, January 19, 2010
MLK Day march unites UA, Tucson for 25th year
UA club volunteers in spirit of MLK day By Luke Money Arizona Daily Wildcat
The UA Communication Club, along with the International Association of Business Communications, volunteered at the BIO5 Institute on Monday. Elena Acoba, the director of communications for the Tucson branch of International Association of Business Communications, organized Monday’s event, which was dedicated to making The UA supply kits for Operation Communications Deep Freeze. Club Operation Next meeting: Deep Freeze is Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. in a cooperative e f f o r t the Communication coordinated building by the Tucson Winter Shelter Program and the Interfaith Coalition VOLUNTEERS, page 5 Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Members of the Grandview Masonic Lodge #23 lead the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March on Monday to honor the civil rights leader of the 1960s. Marchers held signs and posters honoring Dr. King as they walked from the UA Mall east along Broadway Boulevard to Reid Park.
UA students and local organizations walk together, remember Dr. King’s message and life
By Jacob Moeller Arizona Daily Wildcat Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the annual MLK Day March from the UA campus to Reid Park. “I would like to welcome everyone coming out to march with us today in the legacy, in the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Maria Moore, interim program director for UA African American Student Affairs. The cold weather and possibility of rain did not stop the participants from making the walk. “We must seize the moment,” said Clarence Boykins, who runs the Tucson Celebration Committee for the holiday and has conducted the march in each of
its 25 years. “If we choose to not use it, then we will truly lose it.” The crowd stretched from the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium to Campbell Avenue and the participants held signs in both English and Spanish. The three-mile trek was filled with smiling faces, friendly conversation and inspired singing. “Everywhere we go, people want to know who we are, so we tell them,” sang one group of marchers in a “Remember The Titans”-like tune. “We’re marching for our freedom and an education.” At the end of the march, the crowd was welcomed by the rhythmic sound of drums and the smell of catfish, kettle corn and hot dogs at Reid Park.
Carl Bedford, the master of ceremonies, said, “We’re really happy that you’re here. We’re here to have a great time and we invite you to join us in that.” Bedford welcomed to the stage 20-year-old Justin Moore to sing the national anthem. Moore inspired quite a response from the growing audience. “It was definitely a blessing to be able to share what God has blessed me with, with everyone else,” Moore said. “This day means a lot. It is awesome to celebrate a man who has given so much to all of us.” A majority of the participants were students and student organizations. Randy Baires, an education senior and the president of the Omega Delta
Phi fraternity, explained, “We’re a multicultural organization, one of the brothers brought it up and everyone got on board.” Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias spoke about the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the march. “I think it’s a great time for all of us to get out and bring consciousness to the issue of civil rights and to energize us to do the right things in our communities,” he said. Boykins took time to remind his attentive audience that there is more to be done. “Our job is not through, the work is not done,” he said. “Enjoy the day, we’ll see you back here next year, same time, same place.”
Immigration reform group hosts forum By Matt Lewis Arizona Daily Wildcat Activists in the Reform Immigration For America organization say 2010 is a promising year to see some real change in immigration legislation. Several students and one UA professor took the first step Friday by having a town hall-type forum. In order to pass a reform bill, the Reform Immigration For America campaign needs 279 votes, including President Obama’s. The campaign, an interfaith effort pushing for comprehensive immigration reform, has Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., on board. Originally a grassroots effort, the campaign now brings together more than 600 groups nationwide. Last week marked the kick-off of their nation-wide campaign to get policy makers and the public to pay attention to issues surrounding immigration reform. “Any major shift in policy starts with grass movements like this,” said Ramsey Coronado, a junior studying
Timothy Galaz/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ruben Reyes, assistant to Congressman Raúl Grijalva, speaks at a panel discussion for Reform Immigration FOR America at the First Christian Church on Speedway Blvd. and Euclid Ave. Friday.
environmental hydrology and water resource who attended the event. The issue is personal for Coronado because he has family members who are undocumented immigrants. A panelist of five representatives
from the business, religious, education and political communities spent about two hours discussing comprehensive immigration reform. More than 100 people attended the event, organized by several UA
students. “I am very excited to be a part of this growing movement at such a crucial time for the reform,” said Miguel Angel Sanchez, an applied mathematics graduate student and Reform Immigration For America campaign volunteer. “We are going to form a powerful movement in this country one person at a time.” Among the panelists was UA sociology professor Celestino Fernandez. Fernandez talked about why he thinks the immigration system is completely broken as it relates to education. He gave the example of Plyler vs. Doe, a court case in Texas involving undocumented immigrants. The case made it to the Supreme Court, and it was ruled that undocumented children are entitled to a free education like any other child. “That law still stands today, but there are many individuals in many states in many school districts that would challenge that law along the way,” Fernandez said. “The question I would pose to you is: to whose benefit would
we implement such a law? It wouldn’t be to the benefit of the United States.” Fernandez added that states do not have the same restrictions when it comes to granting undocumented immigrants residency status and admission to state colleges. In Arizona, undocumented immigrant students can be admitted to college, but they cannot receive any financial aid from the state. The other panelists talked about a range of topics including the financial impact of immigrants, family reunification, border security, border infrastructure and a humane approach to what’s happening along the border. Coronado said the event “provided a pretty good perspective from different sides of the community.” Coronado said he thinks it is feasible that Congress and the president can come up with a good approach to reform, but knows the road will be difficult. “Politically speaking, on both sides of the aisle, regardless of where you stand IMMIGRATION, page 5
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