Let us remember Martin Luther King Junior‘s birthday in the wake of the violence of January 8, 2011 here in Tucson, Arizona.

Martin Luther King, Jr. from wikipedia

January 15 was slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. This year the MLK holiday is celebrated on January 17, but I think this year our minds are mostly remembering the recent mass murders here in Tucson exactly a week ago on January 8, 2011 of six innocent persons, along with the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords of CD 8 and 12 other civilian bystanders.

King preached non-violence and marched for civil rights and peace. Yet he was struck down at age 39 by an assassin’s rifle bullet in Memphis, Tennessee.

Our nation was shocked even more when two months later former New York U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was also assassinated by a man with a hand gun, while Kennedy was campaigning for U.S. President. He was 42 years old.

I would like to think that King’s message of non-violence and peace resonated with generations of people after these two horrible assassinations, both in 1968. I had hoped that his death had not been in vain. Now I’m not so sure based on the recent mass attack by an 22 year old armed man in Tucson of an innocent crowd of constituents waiting to talk to their U.S. Congresswoman. 6 brave Americans gave up their lives that Saturday morning.

As U.S. President Barack Obama said at the memorial service at the University of Arizona’s McKale Center on January 12, 2011:

They were fulfilling a central tenet of the democracy envisioned by our founders – representatives of the people answering to their constituents, so as to carry their concerns to our nation’s capital. Gabby called it “Congress on Your Corner” – just an updated version of government of and by and for the people.

Such senseless tragedies, for people just “practicing democracy.”

Let us continue to work towards mutual cooperation, tolerance, acceptance, and civil discourse. On Friday local politicians in Tucson pledged at a press conference to “commit to promote a civil discussion of the issues we face.” Let’s hope they fulfill their pledge.

Please join in the MLK March starting at the U of A Mall (8:30 a.m.) and Festival Celebration at Reid Park (10:30 a.m.) on Monday January 17. Let us together pray, march, and celebrate in Dr. King’s name for all that he stood for.

Violence has no place in our society.

1/17/11 Update: speaking today at the MLK opening ceremony at U of A mall:
Clarence Boykins (organizer of this event for 26 years from Tucson-Southern AZ Black Chamber of Commerce), Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 7), Mayor Bob Walkup, Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias, former City Councilman Chuck Ford, Councilman Richard Fimbres, Eva Dong Carrillo from Sunnyside School Board. Also attending: City Councilman Paul Cunningham and City Manager Mike Letcher, and thousands of Tucsonans.

More than 150 business & professional leaders attended last night’s kick off fundraiser at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. 6th Avenue in downtown Tucson to meet possible Mayoral candidate Jonathan Rothschild, a Tucson attorney with no prior political experience. Rothschild has served as Treasurer or the Pima County Democratic Party and is a partner in his law firm Mesch, Clark & Rothschild.

Terry Etherton, owner of the gallery welcomed the crowd and said that it was “time for a change” and a “new voice.” Then Dr Laura Elias de la Torre (Campaign Chair) spoke of being a 5th generation Tucsonan and that she has been “waiting for someone to bring her home back to her.” She said she has confidence that Jonathan “understands Tucson from his heart.”

Then the potential candidate revealed that over the past 3 months, lots of people have asked him “Why run for Mayor?” He said that the why is tied in to “people and place”, that he wants to move Tucson forward and revitalize it, by utilizing all its resources. He felt confident that he could provide the “vision, hard work, and leadership that Tucson needs.” Jonathan pledged to listen to all people, rich or poor, to tell them where he stands on issues, and then to listen once again, and to take responsibility for decisions.

Finally attorney Elliot Glicksman spoke enthusiastically that knew that Jonathan is a good problem-solver and has been “involved in all aspects of the community.”

Attending tonight (at least during the hour/half I was there) were Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, former Tucson City Councilmember Chuck Ford, TUSD Governing board member Dr.Mark Stegeman, LD 27 House primary candidate Sami Hamed, aide to Congressman Raul Grijalva. I recognized a lot of attorneys and doctors at this event as well, and many Democratic party activists. For my earlier blog (click here) with a list of other early supporters.

Jonathan Rothschild (left) at work

Questions about this exploratory committee can be directed to Jonathan at jr@jonathanformayor.com, website www.jonathanformayor.com. Besides raising money, this committee is already soliciting volunteers for the potential political campaign.

Stay tuned to find out if Jonathan will actually run for Mayor of the City of Tucson.
His final words tonight were that he wanted to bring people together and “restore public trust”, wise words indeed in the wake of the recent Rio Nuevo fiscal audit.

Jonathan Rothschild, a Tucson attorney and former Treasurer of the Pima County Democratic Party who is exploring a run for Mayor, is having his first fundraiser on Tuesday, December 7.

Please join me (Jonathan) and host Terry Etherton at the Etherton Gallery downtown for the first fundraiser of our exploratory campaign, and enjoy the photography exhibit

“Con-struct: The New West”

Etherton Gallery
136 South 6th Avenue, Tucson

Tuesday, December 7
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Suggested donation: $50, $100 or $150

Jonathan Rothschild for Mayor
Exploratory Committee

RSVP to rsvp@jonathanformayor.com

Read my previous article about Rothschild’s exploratory committee for Mayor (click here). His early supporters on his campaign website are former Mayors George Miller and Tom Volgy, District 3 Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson (as well as her past challenger Donna Branch-Gilby), Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, former Councilmembers Janet Marcus and Chuck Ford, LD 27 Rep. Phil Lopes, LD 29 Rep. Matt Heinz, former LD 26 Rep. Lena Saradnik, LD 27 Rep.-elect Dr.Macario Saldate, former Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party Paul Eckerstrom, TUSD board member Dr. Mark Stegeman, lots of attorneys & doctors, political candidates (i.e. Vince Rabago, Tim Sultan, Clarence Boykins) & aides, etc. (click here for full list of early supporters).

Other possible contenders are of course Republican Mayor Bob Walkup (if he decides to seek a 4th term), and Democratic Councilmembers Karin Uhlich (Ward 3) and Shirley Scott (Ward 4). I have contacted the Mayor and Uhlich, but no word back yet as to their decisions to run. Scott told me she is “keeping her options open”. I wrote a previous article entitled “Will Mayor Walkup run again?” (click here).

Ron Asta, a real estate consultant, formerly a Democrat now a Republican, who is a former Pima County Supervisor told me he is considering a bid (click here).