Public Employee Press

President Obama’s inauguration
We were there

A new era for the United States began Jan. 20 when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president.

The preceding day marked the national observance of the 80th birthday of Nobel Peace Prize winner and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Obama honored the occasion by leading the nation in a day of volunteerism.

Obama’s presidency holds special significance for African Americans, as he is the first nonwhite to ascend to the U.S. presidency. His campaign transcended race and Americans of every extraction and national background identified with his enduring message of hope, inclusion and change — at once a challenge for America to be better, a call for action and a promise of relief.

Three million people visited Washington, and tens of millions worldwide watched history unfold, as Barack Obama took his oath of office with his now-famous words: “Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested … we did not turn back nor did we falter … but by God’s grace we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

The six DC 37 members below were part of the mighty throng in Washington and told PEP what that special day meant to them.

—Diane S. Williams

Members tell what January 20, 2009, meant to them

Belinda Dixon
Local 1549
“It’s great to finally have someone who is labor-friendly to lead the country. We won’t have to worry about anti-labor policies being enacted anymore. Maybe President Obama can get our country back to work, rebuild our unionized manufacturing industries and support public services and public employees. President Obama signed the bill to make it easier to file lawsuits about pay discrimination right away in his first week. He really is for working families.”

Carmen Charles
President, Local 420
“Never did I as a foreign-born person imagine that I would have an opportunity to see a Black man elected to the highest office in the United States. And to be part of that process, registering 700 Local 420 members to vote and attending the inauguration in Washington, is permanently etched in my memory. The president is an advocate for labor, and we can look to him to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. I believe we are finally headed in the right direction.”

Roy Richardson
Local 1597
“I first saw Barack Obama at the AFSCME convention in Chicago, and later at the union’s leadership conference in Washington. I was fortunate to win the trip to the inauguration in a Political Action Committee lottery. The American people wanted a change from George Bush. Obama was the candidate for change. Now we have to support the changes our new president makes and send the message to Congress that unions represent a lot of people and we mean business.”

Jean Joseph Lapierre
Local 1407
“This inauguration was an event like I never experienced before. I spent three hours in line. People came in wheelchairs, came with children in the cold weather, but no one was discouraged. Everyone was happy to witness history with their own eyes. I believe that finally, after eight years of union bashing from Bush, we now have an administration that will at least understand labor unions and working families. We finally have someone who understands our struggle.”

Steve Shaw
Local 983
“It was a beautiful, peaceful event. When Obama put his hand on the Bible to be sworn in, everyone in my section held hands, people of all races and nationalities, all American, proud and united. Obama faces challenges, but because he has selected so many from New York to be part of his cabinet, I hope he will send us enough federal aid to avert the layoffs of public employees the mayor is proposing. If the stimulus package is used right, it can keep us working.”

Zelma Brown
Local 768
“When Obama spoke he brought tears to my eyes. I feel like I’m a part of his plan for America. He makes me feel like there’s hope. His main focus should be to get people back to work. We need the basics: decent housing, food to eat, secure jobs, health care and education opportunities. Obama knows the fight unions have to maintain job security and workplace safety for members. He comes from Chicago, and I hope he will restore funding to public housing and public services.”