Exhibit depicts historic Utah march

One of the greatest crowds ever gathered on the streets of downtown Salt Lake City is being showcased in a collection of photos at Weber State University. The exhibit has particular meaning to Ogden communities, which share a common diversity.

"We have a fairly large Latino population here, and the event made such an impact on the community with the amount of people involved," said Jamie Weeks, assistant to the librarian for projects and events at WSU. She said although it's hard to tell who visits the library to view the exhibit or just to study, "there are a lot of people who stop to look."

The photography exhibit portrays the April 9, 2006, march when more than 43,000 people convened in support of comprehensive immigration reform.

Five Latino photographers captured the spirit of the march in more than 5,000 photos. The pictures were pared down to 60 frames, each containing a handful of images and captions depicting the historic event.

"The march is considered a hallmark of civic participation and the most vibrant manifestation of democracy in the Beehive State," said Armando Solorzano, associate professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah and one of the photographers.

Years ago, he collected various speeches, interview archives, newspaper clippings and other artifacts and documentation depicting the event to be included in the exhibit. He has traveled with it to such places as Washington, D.C., after the exhibit's debut in Salt Lake last year.

The reason for his involvement in the project, he said, is to "give a voice" to the millions of undocumented people living in the U.S. The collection has landed at libraries across the state for stays of up to a couple months in order to give everyone an opportunity to see it.

WSU supported the installment financially, and Weeks said she believes the artists needed tens of thousands of dollars to put it all together. In addition to the Stewart Library, the project received support from various programs and offices at the U., as well as multiple organizations within the community and Westminster College.

"It's been quite interesting to see people's reaction to it all," Weeks said. The pictures will be on exhibit at Stewart Library, located near the center of campus, until Dec. 2.

The exhibit depicts children who participated in the march and religious representations from that day, city officials and workers at the border of the United States and Mexico.

"Undocumented workers remain unheard, and their humanity is frequently questioned," Solorzano said. "Our display shows their appreciation toward the U.S., their celebration of family values, and their strong sense of hope and optimism. To them, the march was a celebration of their dignity and humanity. Our exhibit attempts to be loyal to their deepest desires."

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