Anchorage's KINGdown Award

Anchorage has become the recipient of the 2009 KINGdown Award. This award is presented to the city that is most challenged with issues of equal rights and showing signs that it will most likely “Not Succeed”, wherein equal rights fall “down” in a way that would have frustrated Martin Luther King. The challenges that bring about this ugly award – a negative mark against a city in efforts for the advancement of Equal Rights – comes through the most recent decision by the Anchorage Assembly’s Chair Debbie Ossiander for allowing interference upon the due process of hearing the “voice” of the constituent voters only. During the most recent hearing before the Assembly on Anchorage Ordinance 2009-64 “Equal Rights Provisions” and before any assembly voting process, the Anchorage Assembly instituted insensitive behavior upon its core constituency and interference upon the “due process” by allowing Jerry Prevo to incite bigotry upon the masses - by bringing in busloads of protesters against the ordinance from the Valley. Anchorage is an eminent domain that does not include the voice of “outsiders”. Some of those bused in were under age and had no idea about the issues confronting the Assembly but were allowed to partake of the “Bigotry” movement advanced by Prevo and the Anchorage Baptist Temple. This can only cause bigotry to be ingrained in those still trying to develop an individual conscience. This demonstrates that Anchorage – through the Assembly Chair’s actions or inactions – is a city bent on bigotry and sets back equal rights gained. This should be a wake up call that Anchorage is not a city of “Brotherly Love” and will most likely see an escalation in “Hate Crimes” and other atrocities against humans in their Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness - should this type of interference persist. Residents should be alarmed and tourist should also be cautious when visiting this city, especially those practicing an alternative lifestyle. This KINGdown award can be lifted should Anchorage show by example an about face with respect to equal rights interference. A first step would be to re-call Assembly Chair Ossiander as incompetent in furthering equal rights. This would be an example that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in the quest for such rights and place Anchorage back on track as a city that enjoys and fosters equal rights.