Thousands Rally as One Across Wisconsin to Mark April 4
This is a cross-post from the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO by Karen Hickey in AFL-CIO Field Communications.
At more than 1,000 events across the country, communities joined together in unity to mark the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—and to protect the very rights he died to protect. Building on the momentum that started here in Wisconsin, nurses, firefighters, teachers, people of faith, students and community members stood together in streets, parks and state Capitol buildings across America.
In Wisconsin, thousands stood united against the political attacks against working families and the middle class with over 30 different events in more than two dozen cities. Teach-ins, movie screenings, rallies, marches and candlelight vigils were held in Appleton, Beloit, DePere, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Janesville, Kaukauna, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Menomonie, Milwaukee, Oconto Falls, Oshkosh, Platteville, Racine, Ripon, River Falls, Shawano, Sheboygan, Steven’s Point and Wausau.
UAW, Rainbow PUSH Launch Campaign for Jobs, Justice and Peace
The UAW is joining with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in a new campaign to refocus our national priorities on jobs, justice and peace.
During a press conference today in Detroit, UAW President Bob King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president of Rainbow PUSH, said the campaign will call on our national leaders to rebuild America through new industrial and trade policies that create jobs, encourage manufacturing in America and put workers first.
“The number one focus of our national leaders should be putting Americans back to work,” King said.
No group has suffered more from America’s economic meltdown than working men and women. We need industrial and trade policies that work to keep jobs and manufacturing in the U.S.
‘Keep It Made in America’ Bus Tour Kicks Off
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| Actor Danny Glover tells a Michigan crowd the value of saving U.S. auto jobs. |
With more than 7.2 million paychecks dependent on U.S. autos, a coalition of unions and allies is taking part in a nationwide ”Keep It Made in America” bus tour to send the message that millions of jobs are tied to the fate of the U.S. auto industry. The tour, which kicked off yesterday, will travel to 34 cities in 11 states and ends in Washington, D.C., May 19 for a daylong “teach-in” on the impact of the automotive supply chain in communities and to present a plan to save the auto industry.
The tour is sponsored by the United Steelworkers (USW), the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) and the Mayors and Municipalities Automotive Coalition (MMAC). Says Scott Paul, executive director of AAM:
We all have a stake in a strong domestic automobile industry. That’s why we will put forward a plan to strengthen the automotive supply chain and get America back to work.
Bus tour participants include actor and social activist Danny Glover, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, community leaders, elected officials, labor leaders and workers from steel, iron, glass, plastics and rubber, aluminum and auto parts facilities, along with local auto dealers, community employers and local community and elected leaders.
