John,
We are in the midst of an absolutely historic moment.
Across the country, we’ve seen students, faculty, and staff of colleges and universities rising up.
Throughout history, students have frequently stood in solidarity with labor movements, participating in strikes, demonstrations, and advocacy efforts to support fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights on their campuses and beyond. Colleges are, in fact, workplaces.
And right now faculty, students, university workers, and supporters all over the United States are building a movement at the forefront of a national struggle to divest their universities from Israel and to fight against repression in favor of free speech. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in decades, employing walkouts, sickouts, pickets, and encampments to make their voices heard.
They know as we know that worker power can move mountains, and that’s exactly what they’re attempting to do. These encampments serve as powerful symbols of collective action and demand action from institutions to uphold human rights and dignity for all.
Meanwhile, unions are also standing up for students. On Friday, members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9A held a rally in Washington Square Park in New York City in defense of union members and students who are facing severe repression for standing up for Gaza.
Last summer was a “hot labor summer” of strikes and actions, including the historic UAW and Hollywood strikes. Unions are issuing ceasefire resolutions as a result of massive rank-and-file pressure from new union activists who are connecting the dots and stepping into their full power and the movement has begun to spread to traditionally non-union states like Tennessee and Alabama.
This Mayday — a day historically dedicated to honoring workers’ rights and solidarity, we’re reminded of these interconnected struggles for justice that continue to shape our world. This type of solidarity is exactly what’s needed in this moment, especially after the violence we witnessed last night and in the preceding weeks on the campuses of Columbia, UCLA, the University of Texas at Austin, Emory University, and across the country against students, simply for engaging in nonviolent protest.
At a time when the world is grappling with intersecting crises, from the ongoing occupation of Palestine to systemic racism and economic inequality, it’s more important than ever to stand in solidarity with those fighting for liberation and justice.
Donate now to campus bail funds and stand in solidarity with students peacefully protesting to stop the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Historic moments inspire new people to enter the fight. It’s clear that the student movement is breathing new life into the labor movement and both are pushing for greater actions across the country.
One thing we have always known is — our struggles for freedom are inextricably entwined. No one is free until we’re all free.
And history is on our side.
Solidarity forever,
Team WFP
