Bill Johnson speaks to the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride

Rochester's Mayor Bill Johnson spoke to approximately 350 in attendance at the Crozier Theological Seminary Auditorium Monday night, September 29, 2003. <!--break--> <p>Rochester's Mayor Bill Johnson spoke to approximately 350 in attendance at the Crozier Theological Seminary Auditorium Monday night, September 29, 2003.</p> <p>Johnson spoke of the original people to use the term <a href="http://iwfr.org/civilhistory.asp">"Freedom Ride"</a> and drew a comparison between "those freedom riders and those of you who are here tonight."</p> <p>"We forget <a href="http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/freeride.html">how bad things were</a> for African-Americans as recently as forty-three years ago," said Johnson.</p> <p>The mayor expressed confidence in the cause of the freedom riders present tonight, saying "You are asking for the very same rights as all other Americans." He also said, regarding any naysayers, "It's because of you that they can eat."</p> <p>He told those present that before he came to Rochester, he lived for many years in the southeastern United States. He compared the discouraging words that were said to those embarking on that Greyhound in 1961, to "my people" ... yet ... "it was done. -- You will have your rights too."</p> <p>Johnson spoke to an enthusiastic crowd, pausing at times for their spontaneous chanting ("Yes, we can!")</p> <p>He closed by telling them of another tie to earlier crusaders for justice that the very place they were eating tonight had. "Crozier was where Martin Luther King studied. So tonight you are here with Martin Luther King."</p>

<p>Rochester's Mayor Bill Johnson spoke to approximately 350 in attendance<br /> at the Crozier Theological Seminary Auditorium Monday night, September<br /> 29, 2003.</p> <!--break--><p>Rochester's Mayor Bill Johnson spoke to approximately 350 in attendance<br /> at the Crozier Theological Seminary Auditorium Monday night, September<br /> 29, 2003.</p> <p>Johnson spoke of the original people to use the term <a></a> href="http://iwfr.org/civilhistory.asp"&gt;"Freedom Ride" and drew<br /> a comparison between "those freedom riders and those of you who are<br /> here tonight."</p> <p>"We forget <a></a> href="http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/freeride.html"&gt;how<br /> bad things were for African-Americans as recently as forty-three<br /> years ago," said Johnson.</p> <p>The mayor expressed confidence in the cause of the freedom riders present<br /> tonight, saying "You are asking for the very same rights as all other<br /> Americans." He also said, regarding any naysayers, "It's because of<br /> you that they can eat."</p> <p>He told those present that before he came to Rochester, he lived for many<br /> years in the southeastern United States. He compared the discouraging<br /> words that were said to those embarking on that Greyhound in 1961, to<br /> "my people" ... yet ... "it was done. -- You will have your rights too."</p> <p>Johnson spoke to an enthusiastic crowd, pausing at times for their<br /> spontaneous chanting ("Yes, we can!")</p> <p>He closed by telling them of another tie to earlier crusaders for<br /> justice that the very place they were eating tonight had. "Crozier was<br /> where Martin Luther King studied. So tonight you are here with Martin<br /> Luther King."</p>