Public Employee Press

King stands with presidents

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

More than 300 DC 37 members joined thousands on the Washington Mall Oct. 16 at the long-awaited dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

"Dr. King took the struggle for full democracy to Memphis on behalf of 1,300 AFSCME sanitation workers. He made the connection between workers' rights and civil rights and asserted a powerful claim on democracy," said Lee Saunders, secretary-treasurer of DC 37's national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Saunders spoke that day with President Barack Obama and the Rev. Al Sharpton. On Oct. 15, AFSCME and Sharpton's National Action Network chaired the March for Jobs and Justice.

The white granite memorial by sculptor Lei Yixin awakens memories of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which the great orator delivered on the mall in 1963.

"Being there touched my heart and soul. We have truly arrived, and at last, America has acknowledged Dr. King's accomplishments, his greatness, and his hope for all humanity," said Local 1549 Executive Vice President Alma Roper.

Through nonviolent protest, a young Dr. King led the yearlong bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala., that led to desegregation of intrastate travel. He battled racial discrimination and poverty, opposed apartheid and the Vietnam War, and pressed the U.S. government to enact the landmark Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts of 1964 and 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was assassinated at 39 in Memphis on April 4, 1968.

King's image on the mall stands alongside monuments to Presidents Lincoln and Jefferson. Unions and his widow, Coretta Scott King, spearheaded the campaign that made his birthday a national holiday observed by many with a day of community service.

"There was an air of hushed reverence at the dedication. I would expect no less," said Local 372's Shaun D. Francois I. "To have him stand among presidents is a great honor."

"It was a spiritual experience to see the monument and grasp what it symbolizes," said Local 420 President Carmen Charles.

Local 2627 1st Vice President Mike Lanni attended the dedication with his wife and daughter. "Dr. King empathized with the plight of poor Americans. Now as our nation is hurting, his message can be carried on through President Obama's American Jobs Act, but too many politicians are ignoring it."

"This was a great historic moment," said DC 37 and Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez, "that drew all races together from all corners of this country to celebrate Dr. King and continue the fight for jobs and social and economic justice."