Public Employee Press

Local 372 honors NAACP leader


"We have come too far to stand down now!" was the theme of the Board of Education Employees Local 372 Black History celebration.

President Shaun D. Francois l welcomed members and guests to the local's Feb. 24 celebration at union headquarters that included entertainment by The Uptown Dance Academy.

"It's an honor for us to have a fierce civil rights activist like Dr. Hazel Dukes with us this evening," he said, of Dukes, who is president of the New York State chapter of the NAACP.

Dukes and activist Tamika Mallory, one of the organizers of the Women's March on Washington, stressed the importance of everyone - students and labor and community groups - closing ranks in solidary against the Trump administration.

"We have faced worse things than Donald Trump and did not become discouraged," Dukes said.

— Alfredo Alvarado