This pandemic and economic collapse, along with the recent wave of police brutality and racist murders, have forced our nation into an unprecedented season of crisis and action.
While much continues to change day by day, this emergency results from a deeper and much longer-term crisis, of systemic racism, inequality, and a society that does not value working and poor people.
On Saturday, UE is proud to join the Poor People’s Campaign as a mobilizing partner for the Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington Digital Justice Gathering. The gathering will be broadcast on June 20, 2020 at 10 AM & 6 PM Eastern and on June 21 at 6 PM Eastern at June2020.org. It will also be live-streamed on UE’s Facebook page.
UE General President Carl Rosen recorded a video this week urging UE members and allies to join the Poor People’s Campaign June 20 mass online gathering.
In the video, Rosen explains that “We’re going to be demanding that the voices of 140 million poor and low-income people be heard, both in this critical election year and in the fights to come under a new administration.
“The current struggles around the pandemic, the economy and racial justice all bring home Dr. King’s lessons of over 50 years ago. We need good jobs for all, health care for all, strong labor rights, and an end to discrimination.”
This coming Friday is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery. This date takes on special significance this year, as people all across the country stand up for racial justice.
The Movement for Black Lives is organizing actions across the country, which many UE locals are joining, or organizing their own actions at their workplaces. Find an action near you at https://map.sixnineteen.com/
On the west coast, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) will observe Juneteenth by stopping work. “Juneteenth has long been recognized by the African-American community, but for many others it was unknown until now – as our nation, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, refocuses on ways to address ongoing, systemic racial injustice,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams. “Thousands of dockworkers will stop work for the first shift on June 19, 2020, to show their commitment to the cause of racial equality and social justice.”
Longtime Oakland dockworker activist Clarence Thomas of ILWU Local 10 emphasized the importance of workers taking action for racial justice to In These Times: “If the cargo doesn’t come off the ship, that’s merchandise not sold. Stopping work…is not a symbol; it’s an act that demonstrates the leverage of the working class.”
We hope you will join one or more of these actions this weekend.
