MLK-Day: Southfield
Forum Honors Dr. King

4ir

RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER

I

he Jewish Community
Council of metro Detroit
wants to send the mes-
sage that Martin Luther
King Day is a national holiday,
not just for the black commu-
nity.
"I think that something has
to be done to make clear the real
purpose of observing MLK
Day," said JCCouncil Executive
Director David Gad-Harf. "It
certainly wasn't meant to be
seen as a day exclusively de-
voted to African Americans and
African American history, but
rather to messages about toler-
ance, nonviolence, bigotry and
racism. We're trying to get the
Jewish community more in-
volved."
Although Jews attended
Monday's MLK-Day celebration
at the Southfield Pavilion, rep-
resentation was sparse.
Jewish politicians Jack Fax-
on, Sander Levin and Maxine
Berman came to the event, as
did representatives of the JC-
Council's City-Suburban Com-
mittee. Rabbi Norman Roman
of Temple Kol Ami delivered
the benediction..
Norman Naimark, who
serves on the committee, said
he wished more Jews had been
there.
"Looking around at the au-
dience, both the white commu-
nity and Jewish community

should have been there more,"
he said. "Somehow, we've got to
get people, especially younger
people, to appreciate the need
and the stake that we have in
working together and living to-
gether."
Deborah Rose, a third-grade
student at Southfield's Steven-
son Elementary School, partic-
ipated in the 1NALK-Day choir at
the Pavilion.
"I know people who don't
know anything Martin Luther
King," she said. "I feel that if
students go to this, they can
learn a lot. Dr. King wanted
everyone to be free and have
equal rights."
Mr. Naimark, a participant

Audience members were attentive.

in Corktown revival downtown,
also serves on the Michigan
Housing Trust Fund. He says
Jews should not just work to as-
sure the health of their own
community.
"In my opinion, the greatest
threat to bringing about
anti-Semitism is a community
that does not function, so
Jews have a great stake in
making sure our overall
community functions well," he
said.
He referred to the Rev. Car-

A Southfield school choir sang ballads.

MJAC Curriculum
Re-Enters Schools

Jewish Women Launch
Gun Control Group

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

KIMBERLY UPTON STAFF WRITER

udy Hudspeth gained
some perspective.
Last year, as a parent,
she attended the pilot
Michigan Jewish AIDS Coali-
tion (MJAC) program for eighth
grade and high school students.
This year, she sat in as an
eighth-grade instructor.
Held at Temple Emanu-El
and coordinated by MJAC and
Jewish Experiences For Fami-
lies, "Choose Life So That You
May Live" is a three-week cur-
riculum for congregational
school families. It includes ba-
sic AIDS information, games,
discussion, speakers and spe-
cific Jewish content.
The program was re-evalu-
ated following its introduction
last year and offered again.

j

Only eighth-grade students at-
tended.
"There is less separation of
students and parents this year,"
Ms. Hudspeth said. "I'm seeing
a lot more explicit conversation
and communication. It's not 'it'
or 'that thing' anymore.
"Sometimes these kids are
tough. But they're listening.
They seem to be taking this se-
riously and asking themselves,
and each other, some important
questions."
Together, parents and youths
watched a condom demonstra-
tion, played a game which gave
them an idea of how quickly the
disease spreads, and listened as
John Vincent of the Association

MJAC page 16

M

arj Levin Jackson, a
writer, a year ago left
the Detroit Free Press
to focus attention on a
cause: handgun control.
Since that time, she and film
producer Sue Marx have teamed
up to form the Michigan Citizens
For Handgun Control, which-
kicked off its local campaign at
a press conference on Monday
at Detroit Receiving Hospital.
In announcing the group, an
affiliate of Sarah and Jim
Brady Handgun Control, Inc.,
Ms. Levin Jackson recalled a
tragic event five years ago in
Stockton, Calif. With a semi-
automatic AK-47, Patrick Pur-
dy opened fire at a school,
wounding 27 children and killing
five.

The group commemorated
the birthday of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., a victim of as-
sassination by gunfire, by re-
minding the public they can
take steps to reduce the prolif-
eration of guns and the contin-

Handguns were
used in 10,000 U.S.
murders in 1990.

uing increase in homicides in
America.
In 1990, handguns were used
in connection with 10,567 mur-
ders in the United States.
Now, Ms. Levin Jackson

lyle Stewart, pastor of Hope
United Methodist Church, who
delivered an impassioned
speech acknowledging Jewish
participation in the civil rights
movement.
"I think it would do the Jew-
ish community good to listen to
the Rev. Stewart. He gave Jews
credit, yet without singling
Jews out, he did make a case for
not abandoning neighborhoods.
I think he made the point fair-
ly. I think he made the point
well." ❑

said, the group will lobby mem-
bers of Congress to pass a ban
on semiautomatic assault
weapons. The U.S. Senate, as
part of its crime bill, approved
a similar ban.
"We are afraid it won't pass,"
Ms. Levin Jackson said.
The group is urging con-
stituents to contact area repre-
sentatives who voted against
the Brady Bill. They are: Re-
publicans Joe Knollenberg and
Dave Camp; and Democrats
James Barcia, Bob Carr, John
Dingell and Bart Stupek.
The group will host an
organizational meeting at 5:30
p.m. on Feb. 8 at 225 Troy in
Royal Oak. For information,
contact Ms. Levin Jackson at
540-6868.

❑