“We Are One” King Anniversary Draws Support from Civil Rights, Labor, Student Groups, and Members of Congress

Media 04.4,11

Washington, D.C. – On today’s 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., national civil rights, student, and labor leaders joined members of Congress on a press conference call to discuss the extraordinary range of state and national events taking place as part of the “We Are One” week of action.

Under the banner of “We Are One,” which grew organically out of the attacks on collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states, a diverse coalition of local, state and national community leaders, workers, activists and individuals are coming together on the anniversary of the King assassination to show unity in the face of these attacks and reaffirm their commitment to King’s vision of a more just and equitable nation.

Event supporters underscored the extraordinary measures that politicians are taking  in pursuit of political advantage in the coming election, including the termination of collective bargaining rights and curtailing voting rights. The speakers also highlighted how these same politicians are using our economic concerns as cover to cut or eliminate resources for a host of proven health, education, job training, and other programs that provide a pathway to the American Dream and serve communities that would otherwise be without such access..

On the call were:
Wade Henderson, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change
Lindsay McCluskey, President, United States Students Association
Larry Cohen, President, Communications Workers of America

Below are select excerpts from call participants:

Wade Henderson, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
“These politicians are putting an unconscionably high price on human dignity and are trying to manipulate the facts surrounding the nation’s economic troubles in a craven effort to gain political advantage in the next election cycle.  They seek to terminate collective bargaining in an effort to break union power.  They seek to curtail voting rights affecting students, elderly voters and Latinos through the passage of new voter I.D. requirements. They recklessly pursue the privatization of essential public services; and they also seek to cut or eliminate resources for a host of proven health, education, job training, and other programs that provide pathways to opportunity for all.”

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
“Dr. King was assassinated during a trip to Memphis to advocate for sanitation workers in their fight for basic rights – the right to job safety and the right for better wages and better benefits. As we commemorate Dr. King’s final march for the rights of sanitation workers, we are reminded that the fight continues to ensure that Americans who work hard and play by the rules can still get ahead. The debate in statehouses across America isn’t solely about collective bargaining. It’s really about rights and opportunity – and the future of the middle class.”

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI)
“We must honor Dr. King’s memory and fight back against this three-pronged attack that will limit voters’ rights, eviscerate workers’ rights and trample on the rights of women, children and the poor.”

Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
“From Florida to Maine to New Hampshire to Indiana, people have been taking to the streets to stand up against politicians who want to cut their wages and take away their rights. It’s especially poignant to remember that when Dr. King was killed, he was standing up for the voice and dignity of public sector workers. Sadly, well-funded right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away those very rights that Dr. King gave his life for.”

Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change
“The stirrings of a movement can be detected.  A movement in which people are coming together, not only to send a message, but to build solidarity and community in common cause for a brighter future.  A future in which the rights of our workers are protected.  A future in which everyone has access to a good job.  A future in which communities stand together against the political and economic forces which are arrayed against them.”

Lindsay McCluskey, President, United States Students Association
“As young people were inspired and moved to action by Dr. King during his life, today we are inspired by his memory and those young people who fought for justice and created change in this county There’s a lot at stake for students and young people in these attacks- our future is at stake, between the threat to our economic prosperity and the threat to our right to participate in our democracy”

Larry Cohen, President, Communications Workers of America
“Today, there is no business as usual at thousands of workplaces, with millions of workers practicing solidarity to defend collective bargaining rights and fight for economic justice. Many are public workers under attack, but many work in the private sector, union and non-union. Workers are wearing red shirts and ribbons in solidarity with Wisconsin workers and those in other states.”