U.S. Civil Rights and Labor Leaders Address Hyundai Shareholders and Executives in South Korea on Anti-Immigrant Human Rights Disaster in Alabama
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Today, American civil rights and labor leaders addressed the Hyundai shareholders meeting to urge the corporation to call for an end to the human rights disaster caused by Alabama’s anti-immigrant law, H.B. 56. This trip is the first of a series of shareholder meetings that the advocates plan on joining. Daimler AG and Honda, which also make cars in Alabama, are holding their shareholder meetings in April and June.
In the preceding weeks, a growing number of civil and human rights and labor groups have called upon automakers Hyundai, Daimler AG, and Honda to break their silence on the law, which has drawn strong rebukes from Alabama’s agricultural, small business, faith, civil rights, and labor sectors.
Today, in a telephonic briefing, the leaders updated the press about their trip.
Yesterday, the leaders hosted an in-person press conference for South Korean media.
- Click here to watch Wade Henderson’s remarks.
- Click here to watch Eliseo Medina remarks.
- Click here for photos from the press conference. Photo 1. Photo 2. Photo 3.
- Click here for photos of the delegation addressing shareholders. Photo 1. Photo 2.
While at the meeting, the leaders distributed an open letter to Hyundai’s shareholders.
The initiative received a significant amount support from the Korean labor movement as well.
Select Quotes:
Wade Henderson, president and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
“In Alabama, Hyundai’s money talks. And on the issue of civil and human rights for the state’s most powerless individuals, Hyundai’s money has been silent. We hope that Hyundai, Daimler, and Honda will engage leaders in thoughtful conversation about taking steps to repeal this law and to work with us to accomplish this result.”
Eliseo Medina, international secretary-treasurer, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
“Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in my country. We are the workers and consumers of today and of the future. Hyundai has recognized this by initiating a major marketing campaign in the Latino community. But all that will come to nothing if the Hyundai brand becomes identified with hate and discrimination. Latinos are waiting to see whether Hyundai will stand with us or with the human rights violators in Alabama.”
Dae Joong Yoon, board member, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC). Yoon’s full statement is available here.
“Our community is largely an immigrant community and we too have children who are denied admissions to public schools, young people who see their dreams taken away as they are unable to attend college, workers who take a bus for three hours because they are unable to drive to work, and parents who are deported, leaving their children behind. HB56 is hurting immigrant families and communities of color and it must be repealed.”