CWA President Larry Cohen Featured in Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network Press Conference

The Emancipator to the Liberator Rally and March to Focus on Jobs, Collective Bargaining Rights, and Social Justice

Communications Workers of America, Washington, DC -- As a lead up to the October 15, 2011 national rally and march organized by the Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN), civil rights, labor, and progressive organizations assembled for a morning press conference at the National Press Club here in Washington, DC on Wednesday, September 28, 2011.

National leaders led by Reverend Sharpton each commented on the importance of building a movement focused on promoting jobs, President Obama’s American Jobs Act, and social justice for all Americans.

Janaye Ingram, D.C. Bureau Chief of the NAN opened the briefing. She stressed that the mission of the coalition is “to find solutions to challenges plaguing disenfranchised communities across the United States.” Reverend Sharpton followed by stating, “Dr. King serves as the foundation of the movement today. His principles then are equally as important today.” Thanking all present at the podium, Reverend Sharpton paraphrased from President Obama’s address to those gathered at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards Dinner last week. He said that we must keep marching, that people must see us marching. And that by marching, we will rise to and surpass the level of our own expectations, giving disenfranchised people hope along the way.

In his remarks at the National Press Club, Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen urged people to reflect on where Dr. King would stand if he were here today. As Cohen said, Dr. King would remind us that our struggle and the upcoming rally and march "is not just about a man, it's about a movement. It's not about a monument, it's about a movement." Pointing out desperate attempts by right wing legislators across the country to undo collective bargaining in the public sector, President Cohen underscored the fact that this fight is about ALL workers, making special note of workers in the private sector as well. Cohen noted that during Dr. King's time, private sector collective bargaining coverage was about 30 percent. Today, in 2011, it rests at 7 percent, 23 percent lower. Facing this reality, the fight for "jobs with justice" is more critical than ever. As President Obama said in his "jobs" speech to Congress, we need a race to the top for jobs and social justice, not a race to the bottom.

In addition to President Cohen, Rev. Sharpton was also joined by Lee Saunders, Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, George Gresham, President of the Service Employees International Union Local 1199, Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Rebecca “Becky” Pringle, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Education Association, Chanelle Hardy, Esq., Washington Bureau Chief for the National Urban League, and Hilary Shelton, Washington Bureau Chief of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumpka was represented by AFL-CIO Policy Director Thea Lee.

Reverend Sharpton and all co-sponsors of the October 15^thEmancipator to the Liberator Rally and March intend to continue spreading the word to every American, that progressives must all engage the Congress at every level. Reflecting on republican rhetoric and sound bites suggesting there is little to no support for the President’s jobs proposal Reverend Sharpton states,“Congress needs to know that support of the American Jobs Act is not just a beltway issue.” He underscores the fact that Americans everywhere must focus on getting this message to every member of congress and especially to state legislators. Get behind the President and his common sense proposals and pass The American Jobs Act.

The NAN fittingly promotes the October 15^th Rally and March as a marriage between labor and civil rights groups, one strategic principle that helped Dr. King build a movement. He committed his life to a higher standard of living for every American. CWA is also committed to doing its part to make this event an unparalleled success. For more information, contact Alfonso M. Pollard, CWA Director of Human Rights on 202-434-1334 or email apollard@cwa-union.org