One has to wonder what this day means to the residents of our “Old Pueblo”.
A day off, participating in a march or reflection on the events of this week in our community, wondering what would Dr. King think or say?
What message would Dr. King convey to our youth, our elders and the community as a whole?
Certainly he would speak out against injustice and advocate for continued non-violent protest.
The darkness that has cast its shadow across our community was not created here but by the forces of shallow politicians who seek the glamour of public office at the expense of fundamental freedom and core values shared by the overwhelming majority, including Latinos.
Who would have imagined that in the first few weeks of 2012 books would be banned as censored material and removed from classrooms in TUSD because they might illuminate or heaven forbid instill the courage to speak out and stand against injustice, no matter who the is the victim or what power the persecutor possesses.
Who would have imagined that the values, teachings and leadership of Dr. King would be so violated just days before his day remembrance and celebration.
For Latinos, this MLK day is not one of celebration; too much has been taken, the wounds too deep and profound to be ignored.
Fortunately, Latinos are not without the skills and ability to respond in a manner deserving of the wrong inflicted but in complete adherence to the memory of Dr. King, non-violent protest.
We too know about the power of economic sanctions, how to exercise the power of our numbers within the “rules”.
For far too long TUSD has taken our property taxes and used our students as a means to fund a budget that does not reflect the best educational needs of Latino students, and the time has come to stop allowing TUSD to write checks on the backs of our youth; it is time to cut off TUSD access to “deseg” funds, to take away the piggy bank that allows TUSD to pick the pockets of every TUSD property owner with out a shred of accountability.
The reality is that every year TUSD becomes more segregated and the Arizona’s political leadership openly funds white flight across the state hoping for the day when public schools will cease to be viable.
And so as Latinos in TUSD respond with their economic sanctions, and our community demands an end to an arrogant and unresponsive school system, we will be working in the spirit and memory of Dr. King to build a new TUSD, one that serves every student irrespective of gender, color, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, disability, economic status, or status in this country.
Richard M. Martinez
“The reality is that every year TUSD becomes more segregated “- Richard Martinez. Yah, 10 percent white and 90 percent “minority” Hispanic and others.
WHEN does the minority become the the majority and stop saying they are oppressed?
You CANNOT be serious with a comment like that?
NEXT you will expect them to protest the 7th grade education they are “graduating” with (as measured by incoming-PCC testing).
That would be something that ALL Tucson could get behind- Accountability.
Unfortunately that word is poison to those here who would rather use children to do their battles, and keep their slouching crappy teacher freinds and administrators employed.
Segrigation is majority Hispanic and minority Chinese, Indian, White and Black and not being able to be on an even playing field because the majority believes they are superior to the minorities and won’t mix with others. Sounds like one group creates it’s own segrigation rather than creating harmony and civility.
*segregation
If ever a time, this is definitely a time when one could say that Mexicanos and Chicanos are being oppressed by a Caucasian majority in the state. Chicanos may be the majority of TUSD, but not of the state of Arizona and not of the leadership of TUSD. But that will change soon when we (MAS supporters of all races) take back the school board this November!
The oppression, if you haven’t noticed is being denied an equitable education, which leads to trying to enter post-secondary educational establishments less prepared than whites.
Lowering the bar again and again with set asides, race based enterance goals and that ilk only serve to crush the unprepared students eventually- Look at the drop out rates.
Your first goal when you take “back” the board is to demand the educations you rightfully deserve.
This article expresses my sentiment towards celebrating Arizona’s centennial too. There is nothing to celebrate in Arizona especially when there is such an obvious, concerted attempt to make latinos second class citizens. I feel only complete outrage at the powers who have stripped these students of their right to learn how all history is intertwined and works together. We live in a shameful time. The school district has a 61% latino enrollment. It means 61% of parents are footing the bill for the extreme right wing agenda in Arizona. Pima county is historically a liberal county and they are trying to insure that the future voters are uneducated and disenfranchised. Huppenthal and the entire school board, except for one, are going to be hit with karma one day soon.
Shame on TUSD! Thank you Richard Martinez for your commitment to this struggle.
Politicians very skillfully exploit the racial anxieties of the white poor and white working class to promote their own agendas and get elected. It’s a song-and-dance as old as the hills.
But politicans abusing minorities and treating them like children on the assumption they have no where else to go isn’t as old as the hills?
I have three hispanic college students I am paying for in school right now. Two have had to take a full semseter of pre-requisites because their high school did not prepare them for the degree plans they want, the other is in remedial classes because he graduated high school with a seventh grade education. With guidance, discipline and hard work, they are now doing just fine. Programs like MAS don’t work because, unlike what MAS teaches, life is not always a racial conflict. Sometimes it’s a question of preparation, hard work, and having guidance to prepare for success. If people in TUSD want to help their kids they need to work on boosting English, Math and Reading scores and abilities. Once the student has been empowered with a usable skill set, they can pursue anything they want. Locking them into the victimhood of a permanent underclass by believing that EVERYTHING in life is a civil rights issue is a recipe for failure and disaster. But that’s what they want, foot soldiers whose only ability is to agitate, race-bait, and call for revolution. The Hispanic communtiy needs Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers and Engineers, not more half-informed plot finders and conspiracy theorists who waste all of that potential. There is no “Safeguarding” of student potential, it just sits on the shelf; it needs to be used, developed, and enhanced. This argument is about somebody’s idea that certain kids have a right to things they don’t want to work for and I’m not alone in that opinion.
I will use every opportunity every time to KEEP BEATING THIS SAME DRUM no matter how many times it gets censored.
How can that Gerrymandered thug Raul demand that the bar gets lowered time and time again when faced with this EXACT problem? PCC tests the academic ability of incoming students AND the thug’s answer is to continue to pass the buck and let everyone major in race theory- Too bad there isn’t much call for agitators and “Community organizers” despite Ol’ B.O.