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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 15, 2005 Students march for equality By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Playing his guitar, Walker Elementary teacher Dan Hamnett led a long line of more than 300 students, parents and teachers in the song "O Freedom," as they marched from Walker to Southern Oregon University on Friday. Walker Elementary School student Ellie vonRadics (left) and Principal Michelle Zundel lead the annual Martin Luther King Jr. peace march Friday to Southern Oregon University. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings For 13 years, the school has organized a peace march to commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday to give students a hands-on appreciation of King's accomplishments and his message of peace and equal rights for all. Students held a number of handmade signs such as "Why can't we be friends?" "Civil rights for all," and "Peace" while singing the songs civil rights marchers made famous during the 1960s. Walker student Aniela Klinefelter, 11, said it was exciting to march to SOU. "It's fun," she said. "People look at you and give you a peace sign or honk. It's like they want to march with you." "It gets better every year," Walker Principal Michelle Zundel said. "I'm very interested with the level of community service of the students when they are with us and throughout their lives." "When we think of the outcomes we want for children, we want strong academic skills, but beyond that you think about qualities such as caring about your community, people and the world around you," she said. "Dr. King's message is a critical part of that. I see this march as the culmination of these qualities we hope to bring out at Walker." At SOU, Walker students gave speeches and sang songs before heading back to school. Taylor Wood, 10, said she was excited to take part in the march. "It's something you wait for the whole year," she said. "It's a lot of fun marching and to commemorate Martin Luther King. ... If he didn't do what he did, the world wouldn't be as good as it is today." Jennifer Longshore, whose daughter is in third grade at Walker, was impressed the school had put together an event like this. "I think it's fabulous," she said. "It teaches our children equality and the importance of freedom in our society." Monday's celebration On Monday, the 17th annual Ashland Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration is scheduled from noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Historic Ashland Armory, at 208 Oak Street. The observance of the slain civil rights leader's birthday is sponsored by the Ashland School District, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the City of Ashland, Jefferson Public Radio and Southern Oregon University. The event is free and the public is encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to Rogue Valley food banks. Keeping with the tradition of the community celebration, students from local schools will share their thoughts and songs on the life and vision of King. Eastern Sunz, Planned Parenthood Teen Theater, and cast members of OSF will also perform. There will also be a brief video clip from the speeches of King. This year, D.L. Richardson, an assistant professor of journalism from SOU will emcee the event. This will be Richardson's fourth year at the celebration, and his first year participating. "I have really enjoyed it each year I've attended," he said. "For me, it's the most important event we have, not just as the Ashland community, but the Rogue Valley. ... It's a community celebration not just of Martin Luther King Jr., but a continuation of a dream. When we all get together in that room, his dream becomes a reality." Seating is always limited and available on a first-come basis. Each year by noon, the event reaches standing room only. The doors will open at 11:30 a.m. All ages are welcome, but parents are urged to stay with their children during the event. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams