Parade Marchers Display Diversity, Strength of America’s Workers

by James Parks, Jan 20, 2009

For Maria Somma, it was a dream come true. The native of Vietnam and naturalized citizen was one of the 265 union members who braved freezing temperatures today to join representatives from across the country and our armed forces to participate in the official inaugural parade for President Obama. The contingent of union members taking part in the parade included members from the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and the National Education Association.

With 15 union members riding a union-made float and 250 marchers alongside, the workers’ contingent was one of the largest groups in the parade. This is the first time in recent memory that workers have participated in the parade.

Somma, who lives in Pittsburgh and is a member of the United Steelworkers, rode the float representing the AFL-CIO constituency group Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). She says labor’s participation shows the power of the American Dream for all people.

It’s very exciting to be welcoming a person of color into the White House and to be a part of history. Even if it was minus 20, I would be glad to be here. This is an incredible achievement for this country. For Barack Obama to come from his background and rise to the top is not the typical American story. His inauguration is part of the transition of this nation to fully embrace all its citizens.

Marching with a banner, “America’s Workers: United for Change,” participants also carried flags that represented the issues most important to working families: an “Economy That Works for All,” “Great Public Schools,” “Good Jobs Green Jobs” and “Health Care for All.” The overall theme of the labor float is “Honoring America’s Workers.”

Several of the marchers in the workers’ contingent said the inauguration signaled a sea change in the way the White House views workers.  Latasha Carpenter, a member of Communications Workers of America Local 2108 in Beltsville, Md, says:

I am thrilled to be here today, the country is coming together in a way I’ve never seen in my life. I’m proud that we have a president who is embracing us all today as union brothers and sisters. It is so important we stand united and strong to ensure health care, good jobs, and the Employee Free Choice Act.

 For Keith Jones, a member of Boilermakers Local 193 in Baltimore, the inauguration

is a culmination of all our hard work during the election. It is great that our union can be a part of making history.

Riding on the float and representing the Alliance for Retired Americans has a special significance for Jimmy Allen of Bowie, Md. The retired member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), who is African American, says he’s seen a lot in his life, but

when it comes to an African American being president, I said I wouldn’t believe it until it happened. Now I can tell my grandchild that she can grow up and be president of the United States and mean it.

The float was created by union carpenters, welders, sculptors and painters. Constructed of steel, wood and foam, it is more than 17 feet high and 24 feet long. Outlines of the diverse “faces of labor”  surround the float as a salute to the backbone of our country—the hardworking men and women who make our nation strong.

Nancy Wohlforth, secretary-treasurer of the Office and Professional Workers, who represented Pride at Work on the float, says it displays the diversity of America’s workers.

These are the people who built America, who keep it working and will rebuild it in the future. It will also send a message to the president and Congress that working people are here and we can’t be neglected. They need to commit to rebuilding the middle class and the first thing should be to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

Fred Mason, president of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO, who spearheaded the drive to include the workers’ contingent in the parade, says:

The workers’ contingent is America at its best—people of different races, faiths and professions coming together for a common good. These are the day-to-day heroes who make this nation great.

Mason says nearly 1,500 groups applied to participate in the parade and only 100 were selected. The fact that 265 workers will be in the parade is a real testament to the importance of working people and their issues to the well-being of the country, Mason added.

Bridgett Finney, a member of AFGE Local 1923 in Baltimore summed up the feelings of the union participants saying:

I am excited because we are here ready for a president who finally cares about workers who will stand with us to implement change.

Even if you couldn’t be here, you can honor this historic event with a commemorative AFL-CIO Obama T-shirt. The long-sleeve, union-designed and printed shirts say “Yes We Can” with the Inauguration Day date, January 20, 2009, under an image of President Obama. The T-shirt sells with a suitable-for-framing commemorative poster for $30 from the The Union Shop Online.^TM The shop also is offering a set of Obama’s books, The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father, for $32.95 here.

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