February is an opportunity for all Americans to remember and learn about our ongoing legacy of struggles for equal rights and justice for all. At a recent event held to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the University of Rochester Medical Center, 1199SEIU VP Bruce Popper reminds us how important it is to keep up this struggle.
We worked for change. We campaigned for change. We voted for change.But the opponents of change have fought back.
They have effectively diluted health care reform. They have stopped worker rights' from even being debated. They even threatened--and took--the Senate seat held so long by the late Ted Kennedy.
Dr. King's last organizing project was planning the Poor People's March on Washington, DC. King knew that without economic justice, there could be no legal equality. That there could be no social justice.
Dr. King realized how hard and how long this struggle would be. How long it had taken to get this far and how long it would take to finally win.
So in this moment, I bid you to keep up the struggle.
To rededicate yourself. To speak truth to power. To volunteer, to organize.
We'd love to hear about how other SEIU Locals are honoring Black History Month.
- We know SEIU District 1199 is hosting a special screening of the award-winning documentary At the River I Stand on Friday, Feb. 26 in Cleveland.
- SEIU Local 721 is holding an African American Caucus Black History Month Celebration, with fifty percent of their proceeds will be donated to the SEIU 721 Helping Haiti Fund. They'll be commemorating BHM with musical performances to remember the rhythm, blues and jazz scene of Central Ave, the heart of the African-American community in Los Angeles from the 1920s - 1950s.
- SEIU Local 1 Canada is inviting all bargaining units to create a collage for Black History Month that celebrates achievement in our communities, history, experiences and our lives. The winner's work will be displayed at the SEIU-partnered Toronto hip-hop festival in June.
What are other SEIU members doing for Black History Month? Please share with us what your Local is doing (or has already done!) to commemorate BHM in the comments section below, or by emailing us at newmedia@seiu.org.
