CWAers Stand Strong for Immigrant, Voting Rights in Alabama

Standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where 47 years ago civil rights activists were met with police dogs and clubs, are CWA members and leaders who joined this year's week-long march to Montgomery. The CWA group included Local 3204 President Walter Andrews, D6 Vice President Claude Cummings and D3 Organizing Coordinator Sheila Williams-Cain.

CWA members and leaders made the week-long march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., last week, ending in a big rally on the steps of the state capitol.

The route recreated the historic march of 47 years ago, but also focused on Alabama's recent assault on voting rights and immigrants. Alabama enacted the most vicious, anti-immigrant law in the nation last year, and also approved new measures to suppress the voting rights of the elderly, people of color, students and low-income persons.

President Cohen and CWA marchers spent the night in churches on the way to Montgomery.

Among CWAers joining the march were CWA President Larry Cohen; Vice Presidents Judy Dennis, D3, Claude Cummings, D6, and Brooks Sunkett, Public Healthcare and Education Workers; Local 3204 President Walter Andrews and a CWA contingent from Atlanta; and CWA Human Rights and Special Projects Director Chris Kennedy.

CWA President Larry Cohen's remarks at the capitol were broadcast as part of "Politics Nation," the MSNBC television program hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton; Sharpton's program was broadcast from the rally.

"The march brought out high school students, Latinos, union members, civil rights activists, and lots of regular folks fed up with the attack on ordinary people. There was singing and chanting and lots of solidarity," Cohen said.

Along the way, marchers slept in churches and rallied in communities. About 125 CWA activists and leaders joined the march and rally.