1986_01 The Daily Collegian January 1986

              Prof entertainsfp^p,,e3
grade schoolers^
Sports
The
Collegian
Tuesday. January 21„ 1986
Visalians denounce Klan at rally
About 300 Visalian citizens rallied
against the presence of the Ku Klux Klan
in their community, Monday, in front of
an automotive parts store owned by a
KKK Grand Titan.
The noon rally, organized by Neighbors
for a Better Visalia, took place at Century
Auto Parts, 2417 E. Main St. in Visalia.
The business is owned by Lauren Lowder-
milk, who would like to make Visalia the
state seat for the KKK.
The protesters were local business
people, families, students and laborers
who voiced their opinions and concerns
during the rally without incident. A
variety of attitudes were reflected by
protest signs and chanted slogans, mostly
drawings of white hoods crossed out by
the international "*no"symbol and shouts
of "KKK, go away." Most participants,
like the Carlos Medina family, turned out
to show their opposition to the KKK, in a
"The KKK will only create problems
for the community," said Medina. "They
will only lead to violence, and wc certainly
relatively   peaceful  c
e of tl
. This
least five signs reading "Death to th<
Klan" were held by people walking behind
members of the Communist Progressive
Labor" Party and" Trie International Corn-
TV Ocilr G>.'irf to
"1 wouldn't say this about any other
organization, but I'm not afraid to use the
"mdroppingmyself to their
Instead of carrying a sign, Denise
Vilson held up a Bible, saying "This is the
is of freedom for all people. "
King's birthdayhonored with rally
By Joseph Wirt                                                At 12:10, a banner reading "Living the andschool,"hesaid,itisadayto "promote savior of this country," Kimber said and
Staff Writer                                                 Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr." was equality among God s children." quoted King, " 'One day people will be
unfurled beneath the City Hall sign, as Mayor Dale Doig read a proclamation, known by their character rather than the
Mayor Dale Doig and City Council-   -city dignitaries walked to the top of the calling the holiday "an event to commem- color of their .kin* "             .
persons Chris Petersen, Les Kimber, and    stairs.   Rev.   Milton   Hernng, co-chair- orate the greatest civi _ right, leader At 12:20 the release of blue balloons
Karne Humphrey were among those wait-    person of the Martin Luther King, Jr. America has ever known. signalled the start of the march.  Rev.
ing in front of City Hall on Monday for    Unity Committee,  welcomed  the large Councilperson Chris  Petersen called Herring explained why it was important
the start of the first march commem-    turnout to the celebration. Herring spoke King "a man who stood for peace and to march. "This     "
orating the birth of Martin Luther King,    of "the first holiday in honor ofa black just)Ce."Councilperson Les Kimber began to becoi
Jr. A crowd of 300-400 people filled the    man"and "thefirst f
lawn and sidewalk in front of the hall just    clergyman, in Arae
n, and it's yet
ofaChristi
He called for all clergy present to line up
first, for the march down "M" Street to
the William Saroyan Theater.
The crowd assembled behind the row of
clergy and council, nearly a block in
length. Minor .tragedy resulted when the
paper banner was torn in the assembly,
but was remedied when the councilpeople
held it together. A large bunch of red
balloons floated on either side of the
assembly as it moved off down the street.
Singing "We Shall Overcome,"the pro¬
cession proceeded, with many partici¬
pants arm-in-arm Farther back in the
group, entire families marched and sang.
Between Tulare and Kern, other verses
were added to the soruj.
As tbe marchers filea-into the Saroyan
Theater, Councilperson Petersen, sweat
beading his brow, remarked, "That was a
huge march!"
As marchers filled the Saroyan Theater,
blue and red balloons floated above them.
Later in" the program, master of cere¬
monies  Woody  Miller would ask the
Saw KINO, p*t»2