Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, along with students from Franklin Police and Fire High School, members of the Phoenix City Council, local Civil Rights leaders, and Representatives Ruben Gallego and Greg Stanton, led a torch run to commemorate Martin Luther King Day at Margret T Hance Park.
Following the torch run, the Mayor and the others gathered to rededicate the Peace Civil Rights Memorial at Eastlake Park.
The Memorial, designed to recount and honor local civil rights efforts through history, has been updated to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of its first unveiling.
Commenting at the Memorial rededication event, Mayor Gallego said:
“It’s an honor to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Today Eastlake Park’s civil rights monument was inscribed with two more decades of history from 2000-2020. This is a testament to how Dr. King’s legacy has inspired all of us, and a commemoration of the strides he made.”
The ceremony also honored individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring Civil Rights for everyone. They are:
Robbin Coulon who received the Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award.
Living the Dream recipients:
Kim Covington
Lloyd Hopkins
Nadia Khalighi
Richard Yarbough
Later, when asked what were three words to describe Dr. King’s legacy, Mayor Gallego relayed: “Equality, Rights, Peace”
In response to the question, with regards to voting and civil rights, what is at least one reason it is important to honor and remember Dr. King and the other major Civil Rights leaders like Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall, Mayor Gallego replied:
“The national struggle for civil rights continues. We are right to honor those who began the fight, and those who continue it today.”
Mayor Gallego is right. The national struggle, as shown by the fight to maintain voting rights in this state and across the country against the forces of political reactionism and darkness, still continues.
We need to remember the lessons of the struggles of Civil Rights giants from the past in order to forge ahead and make the civil rights gains for all Americans today and tomorrow.
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