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STEVE: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HEAR ABOUT SUMMER PLANS FOR FREEWAY DELAYS AND CLOSURES.

>>> HEAR ABOUT A NEW PRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>>> THIS WEEK IS THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SPEECH HE MADE IN TEMPE.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

STEVE: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS TONIGHT.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN UNVEILED PLANS TO ENACT IMMEDIATE SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM AT U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

ORDER WOULD BAR MIGRANTS FROM BEING GRANTED ASYLUM WHEN U.S. OFFICIALS DEEM THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS OVERWHELMED.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT CONTEMPLATED TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION ON HIS OWN THAT MOST REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS REJECTED AT THE BEHEST OF DONALD TRUMP.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS CALL BIDEN'S ORDER A POLITICAL STUNT.

THE NEW POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

>>> WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK THE ACTION, STATE LAWMAKERS VOTED TO BYPASS GOVERNOR HOBBS.

THEY APPROVED RESOLUTION A MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW STATE AND LOCAL POLICE TO ACT AS BORDER AGENTS IT WOULD ALLOW NONFEDERAL POLICE TO LOCK UP MIGRANTS WHO ENTERED ANY PLACE EXCEPT OFFICIAL PORT OF ENTRY.

THE VIOLATE VORS A CHANCE TO SELF-DEPORT.

THE RESOLUTION WILL INCREASE PENALTIES IF ARE ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRYING TO GET PUBLIC BENEFITS.

>>> THE TRIAL STARTS IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY ARIZONA SCHOOLS CLAIMING THE STATE IS NOT LIVING UP TO CONSTITUTIONAL OBICATION FOR MONEY USED FOR BUILDINGS AND OTHER CAPITAL ITEMS.

IN 1994 ARIZONA SUPREME COURT RULED THAT ARIZONA SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM WAS VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION BY NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH MONEY FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS.

THE JUSTICES SAID THE PROBLEM IS EACH DISTRICT WAS LEFT TO FUND ITS OWN PROJECTS BUT SOME BUILDING DOME STADIUMS AND OTHERS NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING BUILDINGS UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS.

>>> FLAGSTAFF, DESIGN AND PRESCOTT DURING THE WARM SUMMER MONTHS.

FOR MORE UPDATES ON FREEWAY DELAYS AND CLOSURES, WE WELCOME GREG BYRES WITH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SAYING PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO COOL SPOTS.

IS THAT ONE OF THE TARGETS?

>> I-17 HAS BEEN THE LAST COUPLE, THREE WEEKS.

WE HAVE ONE MORE FULL CLOSURE THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR THIS WEEKEND.

THE LAST OF THE FULL CLOSURES ON THE NORTHBOUND LANES FROM FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT OPENED UP SOONER THAN THAT, BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS KEEP EVERYBODY ON THE DETOURS AND KEEP TRAFFIC OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO I-17.

STEVE: LET'S REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROJECT.

HOW LONG IS IT GOING?

WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETED?

>> IT'S A YEARLONG PROJECT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TAKING OFF THE SURFACE COURSE MATERIAL, THE ASPHALT, TAKING IT DOWN TO CONCRETE AND SMOOTHEN THE CONCRETE OUT SO IT'S A MUCH SMOOTHER RIDE AND LAST LONGER WITHOUT POTHOLES.

THAT'S THE INTENT WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE MAKING SURE THEY TAKE THE DETOURS.

AS AN ENGINEER YOU DON'T HAVE FRUSTRATION LIKE THIS AT ALL.

I WAS THINKING WHEN I DID RADIO NEWS AND ADOT WAS VERY GOOD AT SENDING REPORTING WHAT'S COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION.

I'M SURE IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING BY ADOT.

IS IT FRUSTRATING TO SAY WE'VE GOT THE STREET SIGNS, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION SO YOU ARE NOT IN THE TWO HOUR BACKUPS THAT DRIVE YOU CRAZY?

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THE MAPPING APPS THAT ARE DIRECTING PEOPLE AROUND, WE DRY AND GET ALL THE INFORMATION OUT TO THEM, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'LL STILL DIRECT PEOPLE AWAY FROM OUR DETOURS INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

WE TRY TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT.

STEVE: I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT SPECIFICS, HOW ACTIVE IS FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER COMPARED TO OTHER SUMMERS?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE FAIRLY ACTIVE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS THE I-10, THE BROADWAY CURVE.

IT'S GOING WELL.

IT'S ON SCHEDULE.

ANYBODY THAT'S DRIVEN THROUGH THERE HAS SEEN MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IS THE SIDE ROADS ADJACANT TO THE FREEWAY, WE CALL THEM COLLECTOR ROADS ARE GETTING READY TO OPEN, SO THE WESTBOUND WILL BE OPENING IN JULY.

THE EASTBOUND WILL BE OPENING FALL TIME FRAME.

WHAT IT WILL DO IS TAKE THE LOCAL TRAFFIC TRAVELING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AND KEEP IT THERE INSTEAD OF ON THE MAIN LINE, WHICH WILL REALLY REDUCE THE CONGESTION THAT WE SEE ON I-10.

STEVE: SO TO PUT A HAPPY FACE ON THIS.

IF IT IS MORE ACTIVE, IS THAT A GOOD SIGN?

MORE MONEY FOR PROJECTS, THAT MEANS THERE'S SOME IMPROVEMENT GOING ON?

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL AREA, ALL ARE FUNDED THROUGH MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, SO THAT'S A BIG THING.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS, I'LL PUT THIS OUT THERE.

THERE'S A PROP 479, EXTENSION OF THE FUNDING THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE GET IT PASSED TO KEEP THE PROJECTS GOING, KEEP THE ROADS IN AS GOOD A SHAPE AS WE CAN.

STEVE: THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY AFFECT MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> OH, YES.

STEVE: TALK ABOUT THE 101, IN THE SCOTTSDALE AREA AND CURVING AROUND CAVE CREEK AND THE 51.

THERE ARE LANE CLOSURES.

IS IT THE CACTUS ON-RAMP AND THE SHEA AREA, WHAT PROJECT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> A WIDENING PROJECT, WE'RE ADDING TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION ON THAT, SO THERE ARE RAMPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING SO THAT WE CAN DO THE EXTENSIONS OUT ADDING THOSE RAMPS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON FOR AT LEAST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR TO GET ALL THAT COMPLETED, BUT IT WILL HAVE TWO NEW LANES AND GENERAL PURPOSE LANES THROUGH THAT ENTIRE STRETCH.

STEVE: THAT'S A RELIEVER SITUATION, IN THE SENSE TRAFFIC HAS BACKED UP SO MUCH.

ASK YOU A CYNICAL QUESTION, WHEN YOU ARE DOING THIS IN AN AREA GROWING AS FAST AS MARICOPA COUNTY IS, YOU CAN STAY AHEAD IN THE EXTRA TWO LANES ARE GOING TO HELP, BUT FOR HOW LONG WILL THEY HELP?

>> WE TRY, WHEN WE DO THEM, WE ALWAYS TRY THAT WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS WE DO, WILL LAST AT LEAST 20 YEARS, WE PROJECT THE TRAFFIC OUT.

ARE WE AT THAT LEVEL?

NO, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE BEHIND THE CURVE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, JUST A MATTER OF THE FUNDING TO GET THEM DONE.

STEVE: ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT OR SO.

ARE YOU ANTICIPATING SOME OTHER BIG PROJECTS MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THAT HAVEN'T STARTED YET?

>> YEAH, ONE ON THE 202, THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE WE GOT.

FROM THE 101 TO PLAYA VISTA.

WE'LL BE ADDING TWO LANES FOR A PORTION OF IT AND ONE LANE ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION.

THAT'S GETTING READY TO COME OUT IN JULY.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE AND THE I-10 GOING, WE HAVE THE GILA RIVER BRIDGE THAT STARTED UP ON I-10 SOUTH OF TOWN, SO ANYBODY DRIVING TOWARDS TUCSON, SHORT CONSTRUCTION ZONE FOR THE BRIDGE, BUT A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING RIGHT NOW.

STEVE: OUR FINGERS ARE CROSSED FOR THE COMMUTE.

GREG BYRES, THANKS FOR BEING HERE, APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU BET.

.

STEVE: SEVERAL STUDIES BY THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS SHOW ONE IN SIX KIDS BETWEEN 6 AND 17 EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER EACH YEAR IN THE U.S. ENDING THE SILENCE IS A FREE PRESENTATION TO TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH.

JOINING US IS LETITIA LABRECQUE AND CORINN COOK, ENDING THE SILENCE PRESENTER.

TALK ABOUT WHAT ENDING THE SILENCE IS.

>> CERTAINLY, A TARGETED PROGRAM THAT REACHES MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO THE SCHOOLS WHERE THE YOUTHS AND ADOLESCENTS SPEND A MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS TO LEARN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT TEENAGER BEHAVIOR THAT WE CAN TRACK, WE BRING IN THE KNOWLEDGE BASE SO THE SCHOOLTEACHERS AND STAFF ARE AWARE OF IT.

STEVE: WONDERFUL IDEA, WAS THERE A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP IT AND RESISTANCE TO IT?

>> SCHOOLS ARE VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THE INFORMATION, WE'RE GIVING AN ADDITIONAL TOOL TO UTILIZE, IT'S NOT GOING TO CONQUER ALL OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, I WISH IT WOULD, BUT BRINGS THEM AN EXTRA SET OF RESOURCES TO RELY ON AND REFER OUT IF THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE IN-DEPTH COUNSELING.

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OCCURRENCES WHERE THERE'S THE OLD MYTH, IF YOU TALK ABOUT DEPRESSION, TALK ABOUT ANXIETY, TALK ABOUT SUICIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE IT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WE HAVE TO GET OVER THE BARRIER AND ONCE WE DO, THE SCHOOLS ARE VERY, VERY OPEN TO THE CONCEPT.

STEVE: WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING A PRESENTER?

>> I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH THE YOUTH IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

I WISH I HAD THE SAME SERVICES AND PROGRAMS MADE READILY AVAILABLE TO ME WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL.

STEVE: HOW MUCH TRAINING WENT INTO THIS, IS IT A FORM THAT YOU EXACTLY HAVE TO FOLLOW, I PRESUME THERE ARE CLOSE STANDARDS, CAN YOU MAKE IT YOUR OWN IN ANY WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU ARE GIVEN A SET LIST OF TOPICS THAT YOU KIND OF COVER AND THAT IS WHAT WE GO OVER DURING THE TRAINING PROCESS.

SO THE TRAINING IS A ONE-DAY TRAINING.

IT IS EIGHT HOURS LONG.

WE GO OVER OUR STORY, AND THERE'S A BEGINNING BACKGROUND ABOUT YOU, A MIDDLE, WHAT LOOKS LIKE YOUR JOURNEY, AND THE LAST PART IS FOCUSED ON HOPE.

STEVE: OKAY, LETITIA, IS IT A COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE?

DOES IT FACTOR IN WHAT THE AUDIENCE IS?

>> YEAH, WE TRY TO DO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IN PERSON, THAT'S HOW NAMI WAS BUILT, THE CONNECTION PERSON TO PERSON, AND THE SAME THING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE TO LEARN TO DELIVER SERVICES ANOTHER WAY.

IT'S A HYBRID MODEL.

WE DO BOTH.

IF SOMEBODY IS IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA NOT CONDUCIVE TO INTERNET, WE TRY TO HOOK THEM UP WITH THAT OR TRY TO GO DOWN TO WHERE THEY ARE.

IT'S A NICE COMBINATION OF BOTH NOW.

STEVE: I'M GOING TO USE A MEDIA TERM, ARE THEY ALL LIVE OR PRERECORDED FOR THE AUDIENCE?

>> SOME OF THE SEGMENTS CAN BE PRERECORD, BUT THE ACTUAL TRAINING AND FUNCTION IS A LIVE EVENT.

STEVE: WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE TO BE IN A LIVE SETTING LIKE THAT?

IT'S SO PERSONAL.

I IMAGINE IT GETS SOMEWHAT EMOTIONAL AS WELL.

WHAT IT LIKE TO BE IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE LIKE THAT?

>> I FIND IT TO BE COMPLETELY INSPIRING, TO BE HONEST.

I'M SUCH A FIRM BELIEVER, WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT IT, WE GIVE IT ROOM TO BREATHE.

NO LONGER HAS TO REMAIN TRAPPED WITHIN US, OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE THE STRUGGLES AND MY OWN STRUGGLES.

STEVE: SOME CASES TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE 6 THROUGH 17.

THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THE YOUNGER, I IMAGINE, TO HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS, INITIALLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CAN I ASK WHAT REACTION YOU'RE GETTING?

AND ARE YOU GET REACTION FROM THE YOUNGEST OF THE YOUNG?

>> SURE, WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF REACTION, WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS FINALLY SOMEBODY IS NORMALIZING THIS AND NOT MAKING IT SO STIGMATIZED AND IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT DIFFICULT THINGS AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO THEN TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT IT.

SO IT'S REALLY THIS OPENING UP OF A DIALOGUE AND COMMUNICATION THAT IS THE MOST CRUCIAL PIECE OF THIS PROGRAM.

STEVE: I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A SPECTER FOR A LONG TIME, THAT ALL OF US HAVE DOUBTS AND FEARS ON A DAILY BASIS.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S BETTER IF IT'S OUT IN THE SUNLIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE CONSIDER NORMAL ADOLESCENT, YOUTH BEHAVIOR, WHEN IT GOES ON FOR A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE SEVERITY IS INCREASED, WE'RE LOOKING AT PATTERN OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THAT'S THE DISTINGUISHING FACTOR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN THINGS ARE NOT THE NORMAL PATTERN ANYMORE AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NEXT?

WE'RE BUSTING OPEN THAT COMMUNICATION.

>> CORRINE, ANY STORIES CAN YOU SHARE FROM GROUPS HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I'VE BEEN DOING OVER 100 PRESENTATIONS, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME.

I ALWAYS HAVE INDIVIDUALS COME UP TO ME THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME FEEL SEEN, FEEL HEARD, FEEL UNDERSTOOD.

THEY CONFIDE IN YOU, THEY SHARE SOME OF THE DEEPEST, DARKEST SECRETS BECAUSE AGAIN THAT DIALOGUE HAS BEEN OPEN AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE WITH ME BECAUSE I SET THE STAGE BY SHARING MY STUFF AND BEING VULNERABLE FIRST, RIGHT?

>> LETITIA, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

A BIG QUESTION GOING FORWARD CAN, THE PROGRAM BE EXPANDED OR IS IT IN THE WORKS?

>> IT IS IN THE WORKS AND ARIZONA HAS TAKEN THE STAND, WE'RE DOING THE STATEWIDE APPROACH TO THE PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT SILOED WITH COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY, WE SHARE RESOURCES AMONGST THE STATE.

WE REACHED OVER 6,000 STUDENTS AT THIS POINT AND WE'RE JUST GROWING.

AND WE HAVE REQUESTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND.

IT IS GREAT.

STEVE: THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

.

STEVE: THIS WEEK IS THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'S SPEECH, RELIGIOUS WITNESS FOR HUMAN DIGNITY.

8,000 PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

AUDIO OF THE SPEECH WAS FOUND BY ACCIDENT AT A LOCAL THRIFT STORE.

BEFORE SPEAKING IN TEMPE, DR. KING SPOKE AT THE TANNER AME CHURCH IN PHOENIX.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY PASTOR WARREN STEWART FROM FIRST INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN PHOENIX.

REVEREND WARREN STEWART, SR.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

STEVE: BACK TO 1964, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, HOW SIGNIFICANT IT THAT DR. KING CAME HERE COMPARING HOW SIGNIFICANT HE WAS IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>> IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE ARIZONA ONLY HAD 2 1/2 TO 3% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND FOR HIM TO LEAVE THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE SOUTH AND BACK EAST TO COME HERE TO SPEAK AT ASU WAS AMAZING IN ITSELF, BUT I THINK IT WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANT ON BEHALF OF THE ASU PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS THE PASTORS OF LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS WHO URGED KING TO COME.

STEVE: SO IF WE THINK BACK TO THAT TIME PERIOD, JUNE OF 1964, JULY OF 1964 THE AMAZING CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

HOW MUCH DID DR. KING HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT WHEN HE WAS IN TEMPE, AND HOW MUCH DID HIS PUSH FOR THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN HE WAS HERE, THAT WAS LEGALIZED DISCRIMINATION IN THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE DID NOT LIVE OUT WHAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SAYS, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, AND SO AS YOU MENTIONED, LYNDON JOHNSON WAS ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF 1964 THAT CHANGED THIS NATION FOR THE BETTER.

STEVE: AND SO I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS.

I KNOW DR. KING TO CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE POPULATION WAS A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE.

IF WE LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY, INTENDED TO BENEFIT EVERY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.

WASN'T ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE OR BROWN PEOPLE.

>> HE WAS TRYING TO GET THE NATION TO LIVE OUT PRINCIPLES IN THIS CONSTITUTION, WHICH IT HAD NOT DONE SINCE ITS INCEPTION, SO HE WAS JUST DOING WHAT HE DID.

I HAVE SAID THIS CONSISTENTLY, WHAT GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS TO THE 18th CENTURY, ABRAM LINCOLN WAS TO THE 19th CENTURY, MARTIN KING WAS IN THE 20th CENTURY TO PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.

STEVE: WANT TO ASK BUT THE THINGS YOU TOOK CARE OF IN ARIZONA AND THE CONTROVERSY BEHIND GETTING THE HOLIDAY FOR DR. KING.

THE TAPE FOUND AT A LOCAL THRIFT STORE, HOW STRANGE WAS THAT?

>> AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I THINK GOD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, I MUST SAY THAT, BUT, YES, THE VERY FACT THAT NO ONE REMEMBERED THIS SPEECH, AND IT WAS FOUND IN A GOODWILL STORE WHERE IT COULD EASILY BE DISCARDED, REEL-TO-REELS, NINE YEARS AGO?

HAND OF GOD.

STEVE: REEL-TO-REEL IN A PLACE THAT GETS 100 DEGREES AND DRY IN THE SUMMER.

>> RIGHT, AND YOU HAVE A SPEECH BY THE GREATEST PROPHET OF THE 20th CENTURY.

STEVE: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT -- >> IN ARIZONA.

STEVE: IN ARIZONA, EXACTLY.

SPEAKING OF ARIZONA, YOU WERE SUCH AN IMPORTANT LEADER GETTING HOLIDAY TO HONOR DR. KING HERE, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES, BUT TAKE ME BACK TO EVAN MECUM'S TIME AS GOVERNOR WHEN HE RESCINDED THE EXECUTIVE HEARD THAT BRUCE BABBITT HAD.

YOU WEREN'T STUNNED WHAT GOVERNOR MECUM HAD TO SAY, YOU CAN TAKE ME BACK ALL THE YEARS WHAT YOUR REACTION WAS?

>> YES, IT SHOCKED THE STATE, THE NATION AND THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT WAS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, AND YET THIS MAN, THE GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA SAID DR. KING WAS NOT WORTHY OF A HOLIDAY, AND SO THE FIGHT WAS ON, AND WE BATTLED FOR 6 1/2 YEARS, AND WE BECAME RATHER THAN THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE NATION IN 1987, WE BECAME A LEADER OF THE NATION BY THE ONLY STATE TO PASS THE KING HOLIDAY LEGISLATION BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

OVERWHELMINGLY IN 1992.

STEVE: AS YOU SAID, 6 1/2 YEARS OF FIGHTING OVER THIS, EVAN MECUM WAS ONLY IN OFFICE FOR ONE YEAR.

>> WE HAD TO EDUCATE ARIZONA VOTERS AND THE ARIZONA POPULATION, DR. KING'S HOLIDAY WAS NOT A BLACK HOLIDAY, IT WAS AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY THAT REPRESENTS WHAT AMERICA COULD COULD BE AT ITS BEST.

WE HAD TO MOVE PEOPLE.

IN 1987, 70% OF ARIZONANS WERE AGAINST THE KING HOLIDAY.

BY THE TIME WE WON IN 1992, 70% VOTED.

WE MOVED THEM 100% IN OUR DIRECTION, BY EDUCATION.

STEVE: DID YOU FEEL THE DIRECTION MOVING THAT WAY, OR DID YOU HAVE NIGHTS WHERE YOU WERE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

>> WELL, IT DIDN'T WORK.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT DIDN'T WORK.

THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TWICE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND OVERTURNED BY REFERENDUM, TWO BALLOTS IN 1990 WERE ON THE GENERAL ELECTION, BOTH OF THOSE WERE DEFEATED, SO WE HAD TWO MORE YEARS TO GET IT DONE AND THANK GOD WE GOT IT DONE.

STEVE: SO SHOULD ARIZONANS TAKE REAL PRIDE BEING THE FIRST STATE TO HAVE A VOTER APPROVED HOLIDAY FOR DR. KING?

>> YES, SIR, YES, SIR.

WE PROVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF ARIZONANS SUPPORT WHAT DR. KING STOOD FOR.

STEVE: I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS BIG QUESTION, 30, 45 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW SIGNIFICANT DOES DR. KING REMAIN TO THIS DAY TO AMERICA, WHEN WE SEE THINGS RELATED TO GEORGE FLOYD NOT THAT LONG AGO?

>> DR. KING IS STILL THE MORAL, GLOBAL COMPASS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING THE NATION AND ARIZONA.

>> PASTOR KING, THANKS.

>> MY PLEASURE, SURE.

STEVE: I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS TONIGHT.