SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and SEIU members and leaders were part of a crowd of around 5,000 celebrating the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday.
While speaking at the Rebuild America March for Jobs, Justice and Peace, Henry recounted listening to King deliver his famous speech when she was 7 years old with her family. She told the story of Monnie Callan, a retired social worker and a member of 1199SEIU in New York. Monnie and her husband traveled hundreds of miles with two infants to hear Dr. King's dream for America.
Henry also spoke about what we need to do to put Americans back to work, fix our broken immigration system, and fully realize Dr. King's dream for our country.
"Dr. King knew better than anyone that we can't just wait for others to deliver the change we seek. Ordinary people acting in bold ways is the best way to transform the world," said Henry. "I believe that we must link arms--just as many of you did in Washington on that August afternoon in 1963--to to win justice for all Americans and make Dr. King's dream a true reality."
Henry was joined by Rev. Jesse Jackson; UAW President Bob King; Detroit Mayor Dave Bing; U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.; U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.; state Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and his running mate, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence. (Read more in the Detroit Free Press).
Outside of Detroit, SEIU members and leaders celebrated Dr. King's dream at events across the country. SEIU Executive Vice President Gerry Hudson met with SEIU AfRam in Chicago, and 1199SEIU President George Gresham joined Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights leaders, SEIU members, and others for the Reclaim the Dream rally in Washington, D.C.
» View more photos on Flickr from the Detroit rally, courtesy of SEIU Healthcare Michigan.
