Kids TALK BACK

The Daily Pilot visited Victoria Elementary School in Costa Mesa to

ask children, “Who was Martin Luther King, Jr., and why do we have a

holiday in his observance?”

“He set freedom for all black men. He gave all black men and women and

white men and women who couldn’t live with each other or drink from the

same fountains the chance to live together instead of fighting. That’s

why he gave speeches.”

Samuel Gonzalez, 9, Costa Mesa

“He proved that white and black people could be treated evenly. He

said things that were very important at ceremonies and he helped someone

on a bus.”

Katie Barr, 8, Newport Beach

“It was his dream to treat everyone fairly. He wanted freedom to

happen everyday and took big speeches.”

Tyler Kirtley, 8, Costa Mesa

“He made no slavery so that people could be freed. He wrote a speech

and kept on trying; he was very persistent.”

Matt Carlyle, 8, Costa Mesa

“Whites wouldn’t sit on a bus with blacks and he fought for the

blacks. He helped the blacks when they fought against the whites.”

Alley Perkins, 8, Costa Mesa

* Interviews and photos compiled by Bryce Alderton