From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Living the Dream
Martin Luther King Jr. march in Fresno
Monday, January 20, 2003
Monday, January 20, 2003
![mlk_4.jpg](/uploads/2003/01/21/mlk_4.jpg)
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
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
For more information:
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
I'm proud of the way Fresno honors Dr. King's goals and ideals. The series of events are wonderful reminders for all of us. Many thanks for the pictures and timely reporting.
It's good peopel in the valley are finally starting to do something. I used to live there- horrible place to live. Nothing goes on and there's lots of opporunities for action there's about 6 prisions in the valley not to mention the3 farmers
as a veteran resident of fresno and ardent follower of the amazing shit that active, conscious people of all sorts are doing down there...well lets just say that i am amazed at some of the organizing that is going on, and wish that some of the same elements that are working together in Fresno, could work together in other parts(aka the Bay)
the only problem is this may be a bit of the "grass is greener" on the other side type of error...but really the grass is greener up here in the Bay, and we still don't have enough of the jobs with justice like, fresno community alliance spirit...
"East, West, Home is Best" - chuckE
the only problem is this may be a bit of the "grass is greener" on the other side type of error...but really the grass is greener up here in the Bay, and we still don't have enough of the jobs with justice like, fresno community alliance spirit...
"East, West, Home is Best" - chuckE
I was born and lived in Fresno till I was 17(16?). I was in sf for the BIG rally on Jan.18...we drove down from our little southern oregon town,cave junction...I also have thought Fresno was a pit, nothing going on...How Wrong I am, and I thank MIKE RHODES for the great PICS, keep up the GOOD WORK, PEACE TO ALL,rc
Great pictures and story about the march on Monday. I really appreciated the great photography that helped me feel like I was there. I had to work this day and was sad to miss the amazing march.But, I thought the Bee's article made an awesome point about Fresno being one of the few cities to take to the streets instead of holding parties to pat each other on the back in celebration of King's birthday. Hooray for Fresno and its amazing progressive community!!!
George Ballis has put video of the Fresno Martin Luther King march on his web site at:
http://www.sunmt.org/jan21chron03.html
http://www.sunmt.org/jan21chron03.html
For more information:
http://www.sunmt.org/jan21chron03.html
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network