Labor and Civil Rights

January 17 - 21, 2008, more than 1,000 union and civil rights activists gathered for the AFL-CIO Conference "Labor and Civil Rights: 40 Years of Keeping the Dream and Movement Alive." 

The annual Celebration for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was held in Memphis where Dr. King was assassinated 40 years ago while helping striking sanitation workers gain a voice at work.

Our own Doris Reed, Dwayne Jones, David Pickens and Rodney Vaughn joined the union members and activists to celebrate Dr. King's life and contributions to civil and worker rights.  Other participants in the Conference included Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. 

Attendees were also able to relive history as strike participants, including Bill Lucy, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer, recalled events of the time.  Highlights of the Conference were presentations honoring some of the surviving city sanitation workers and a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum.

The Museum alone is worth the trip to Memphis.  If you can't make it to Memphis, 4 video clips featuring Dr. King are available online from the AFL-CIO.

Joe Warner, surviving sanitation worker

Bill Lucy, Secretary-Treasurer, AFSCME and        ASASP Secretary, David Pickens

Hattie Jackson, civil rights activist, strike supporter

Clayola Brown and Richard Womack, Sr.  --          Conference Co-Chairs