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AFL-CIO’s King Observance Focuses on Economic, Social Justice
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In Detroit—a historic crossroads for both the labor and civil rights movements—more than 550 activists and leaders of those movements will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the AFL-CIO’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance and National Conference.
The Jan. 12-16 observance will serve as an opportunity to recommit to working toward King’s cornerstone goals of economic and social justice. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker says union, civil rights and community activists can honor King’s legacy by:
Redoubling our efforts to make real his prophecy our time—his message of justice for all, his message that the American Dream is for all of us.
The conference opens tonight and includes an awards presentation to civil rights veteran and lawmaker Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). Conyers, who has been in office since 1964, is one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Tomorrow, attendees will fan out across the Motor City for a day of community service projects at local shelters, food banks, schools and social service centers. In the evening, a town hall meeting moderated by national radio talk show host and civil rights activist Joe Madison will examine the growing attacks on voting rights, union workers, the jobless and immigrants.
Through a series of workshops Saturday, participants will explore developing political strategies for the upcoming elections and beyond; combating the economic crisis with solutions for the 99 percent; protecting public education; building coalistions; and using social media to advance social justice. The evening will close with a reception featuring the music that made Motown famous.
Sunday will feature a morning worship service at the Triumph Church and a visit to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet caps the day with honors to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and other civil rights, labor and community activists who exemplify King’s dedication and work.
Monday concludes with Detroit’s King Day Celebration at the Central United Methodist Church followed by the city’s annual King Day March.
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Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement led a major advance for working people in bringing about voting rights (which are now threatened) and an end to Jim Crow segregation. (Plain old northern-style segregation still persists, of course). We are now being pushed backward before the gains which resulted from successfully forcing an end to the War in Vietnam and driving Nixon out of office. Today, the greatest American hero, Bradley Manning continues to be punished for the crime of letting us ‘little people’ know what the US is really up to in Iraq and Afghanistan. If MLK were active today he would be campaigning for his immediate release. Our phones can be tapped now, there is preventive detention at their sacred conventions and meetings, and the President has the right to imprison any American without trial indefinitely just by using the T word. Police have been taught military tactics and liberally use batons, gas, spray and even ‘non-lethal’ bullets against peaceful protesters.
Our situation is worse today than at the height of the civil rights movement. There are a lot more poor folks now, with many more losing jobs and homes every day. Those with jobs lack unions and benefits and basic rights, not to mention dignity. We need a movement like the civil rights movement, but bigger and broader, involving all workers employed or not, and Occupy Wall Street, the students and young people of this country out into the streets. Back then we were out in the streets, and let me tell you, it paid off bigtime. We must never forget that the only source of power that we have is our numbers mobilized in massive street demonstrations and occupations.
Let us not forget his companion and supremely significant other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3j9ltp1qM8
MLK delivered his “I have a dream speech,” in August of 1963. Many years later he started the “People’s Campaign,” an effort which transcended race and concentrated on class struggle. This movement came about after Dr. King collected his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo and he spent some time in the Scandinavian countries, which remain beacons of Social Democracy to this day. With the People’s Campaign, came the expected media “drop off.” On August 6, 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia, MLK said, “There must be a better distribution of wealth, and maybe America must move toward a Democratic Socialism.” A year later he was assassinated. And look at where we are today…
Just remember this… more than civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King advocated honesty and justice for all. He did not speak racially-oriented, Dr. King Jr. spoke for everyone!
And his day celebrates the progress of those civil rights for everyone. That everyone would include women, those who have handicaps, those who are homosexual or transgender can also lay claim to the benefits brought about by the struggles we identify as being Dr. King’s.
Thank you, God, for helping him to help us.
Martin Luther King was the greatest American and one of the
gteatest world figure. He got things done for workers and the poor through non-violent means just like workerss unions do.
By supporting the Garbage workers union during a strike,
He showed that unions agree with his philosophy of getting social
reforms without using violent.
On MLK Weekend and all through every year, the ONE WORD for what we oppose is not “racism” or “sexism” or ‘ageism” or “homophobia!” In MIGHTY SOLIDARITY, and in honor of Dr. King’s mission, we must oppose ALL forms of “CLASSISM!” Teach it forward!