Living the Dream

LIVING THE DREAM
By Mike Rhodes
Monday, January 20, 2003

Thousands of people participated in events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Fresno over the last couple of days. The community became united under the banner of LET FREEDOM RING - FOR HEALTHCARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOBS, AND PEACE. Today, hundreds of marchers participated in the annual march in downtown Fresno. In addition to the many community activists at the event, local politicians showed up to pay homage to the events themes. At the front of the march, Fresno mayor Alan Autry, California Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, City Council members and other elected officials told the marchers that they supported peace, economic and social justice. State Senator Dean Flores demanded that home health care workers be paid a living wage. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer even came out and helped hold the lead banner that said “Let Freedom Ring for Equality, Justice, and Civil Rights.

But, the event was not really about the politicians who came to be seen, promote their political agendas, and tell the audience what they wanted to hear. The march was an affirmation that the grassroots movement for peace, social, and economic justice is alive and well. People were marching because they were inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and have hope for a better world. They are not going to wait for elected officials to give them justice - they will take to the streets to demand their rights.

There was a large contingent of marchers demanding an end to the Bush Administrations sword rattling and war against the world. Signs saying NO BLOOD FOR OIL, UNITED FOR PEACE, and DON’T ATTACK IRAQ were everywhere. The Service Employees International Union local 250 organized many home health care workers to participate in the march calling on the county to pay workers a living wage.

With chronic double digit unemployment (Fresno County currently has over 15% unemployment) and one of the highest rates of poverty in this country, the demand for jobs, healthcare, peace, and affordable housing was a very real and concrete cry from the people of this community. For more information about the struggle for social, environmental, & economic justice, immigrant rights and a living wage for all working people read the Community Alliance magazine. For a free copy or to subscribe go to: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home