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APRI Southern Arizona - Civil Rights work earns honors for 10 Tucsonans

• Mar 11, 2008 Posted by Joshua Jones
  The Southern Arizona chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute on Friday honored 10 Tucsonans who have played a significant role in civil rights in Arizona.

  "There are so many outstanding people in our community that are black," said Vicki Marshall, an organizer for the event. "I'm proud of the longevity of these people."

  The institute uses the ideas of the civil rights and labor movements to promote or extend democracy to those traditionally disenfranchised or discouraged from participating in the political system.

   

  At the ceremony, held at Pima Community College, Norman Hill, national president emeritus, discussed the accomplishments and principles of the founders of the institute - Asa Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin.

   

  Hill, 74, of Washington D.C., was a member of the Congress of Racial Equality and served as a key adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He said he hoped his talk in Tucson would support the continued efforts of the organization to promote voting rights.

  The organization worked to prevent passage of Proposition 200 in 2004, which requires people to show either two forms of identification or a birth certificate to vote. Voters approved the proposition 56 percent to 44 percent.

   

  Sam Newsome, chapter president, said the group believes the law discourages many voters, especially the elderly and minorities.

   

  "It's incredible the way (Hill) built the fabric of black history into American history, and then tied it into what our challenges are today for voting," said Doris Ford, who received the outstanding educator award. "His being back here again with his knowledge, expertise, and his ability to challenge us was exciting."

   

  In recent years, the organization has pushed to get minorities to vote.

   

  "We've been encouraged by interest in the (presidential) primaries taking place," Hill said. "If that trend continues there will be a large turnout in the general election."

   

  Ford, who has worked with Newsome and the APRI chapter to register voters, said she was surprised and humbled by the award. She also volunteers on behalf of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

   

  Her roughly 40-year career in education includes serving as assistant vice president at the University of Arizona, assistant vice chancellor at Pima Community College and as a Pima County Juvenile Court psychologist.

   

  "It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that has always stood for inclusion," Ford said. "I just hope the work that I've done has been meaningful for generations to follow me."
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