National Action Network Martin Luther King, Jr. Rally and March Keeps Dr. King's Dream Alive

On October 15, 2011, more than 20,000 civil and human rights, labor, and economic justice advocates rallied at the National Sylvan Theater at the base of the Washington Monument to participate in the National Action Network Emancipator to the Liberator Rally and March. Their cause, to continue with Dr. Martin Luther King’s mission to build a movement, to fight for jobs and economic justice, while showing support for the proceeding dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Statue by President Barack Obama on the following day. And CWA was there! Forty eight years ago on August 28, 1963 less than a mile from that very location, the Reverend King joined more than 250,000 citizens, civil rights, labor and human rights activists, and national leaders at the Lincoln Memorial in what has become etched in the annals of American civil rights history as “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”. Organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, this historic 1963 march served as a catapult here in the nation’s capital for a series of laws that solidified the civil rights of millions of Americans fighting across the nation for equal opportunity and to share in the American Dream.

Since 1963, a number of historic civil rights benchmarks have been achieved. They include but are not limited to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991; along with myriad other Title VII related proposals that have since been signed into law. Further, since its creation in 1971 the Congressional Black Caucus, “The Conscience of the Congress”, grew from 13 members to 43 members in 2011 giving that body significant power to positively influence legislation relating to civil rights, judicial appointments, healthcare, jobs, home ownership, education, national security, energy and the environment to name a few. Likewise, Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court’s 96^th Justice and its first African American was appointed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson and served on the Court from 1967 to 1991. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas replaced the retiring Justice Marshall assuming office on October 23, 1991. It is also significant to note that since the 1963 March, several women have been appointed to the United States Supreme Court. They include Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (1981-2006), Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (1993) and Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor (2009). Each confirmation signaled a groundbreaking achievement for women and women’s rights in this country.

One of the ultimate goals considered during this movement for equality was the election of an African American President. Dr. King was hopeful. In a 1964 interview recorded by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), when asked to respond to a quote from Senator-Elect Robert F. Kennedy who predicted a Negro president in 40 years, Dr. King stated, "I've seen levels of compliance with the civil rights bill and changes that have been most surprising… So, on the basis of this, I think we may be able to get a Negro president in less than 40 years. I would think that this could come in 25 years or less." This was Dr. King’s response according to the United Press International wire story. The story also ran in the Washington Post and the Chicago Daily News.

Interestingly, although Dr. King’s prediction fell short, he and Robert Kennedy realized that the time was drawing near to aggressively challenge and ultimately change history. Suffice to say, Dr. King’s prediction may very well have come true had presidential aspirations of New York’s 12 ^th Congressional District Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s bid for the democratic nomination for President in 1972 been realized. Or, if the presidential campaign of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson come to fruition in 1983. Regardless, Dr. King’s political, civic and legislative influences played a significant role in moving America’s civil and human rights agenda forward. One ultimate result of his work and the work of many other influential leaders was the 2008 election of America’s first Black President Barack Obama.

By honoring Dr. King’s efforts and supporting the dedication of the only national monument to an African American leader on National Mall, Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Rally and March was a fitting tribute to the life, legacy and trailblazing efforts of an American civil rights icon. As noted in the written tribute to the memorial, planners proclaim, “The approved site creates a visual ‘line of leadership’ from the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, to the Jefferson Memorial.” In a jubilant speech to delegates at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) General Session Luncheon, Martin Luther King, III while lamenting the importance of the completion of the Memorial, jubilantly and fittingly remarked to thunderous applause from ALC delegates, on the National Mall “Now a King sits between two [American] Presidents”.

CWA members from our Washington, DC headquarters and within District 2-13 saw participation as a family event and for those who were not here in 1963, a pilgrimage. The delegation, led by CWA Local 3204 President Walter D. Andrews gathered on Saturday morning October 15^th at CWA headquarters to share this historic occasion. The rally, similar to the 1963 March on Washington and the 2010 One Nation Rally, featured inspirational speeches by numerous civil and human rights, religious, and political leaders including the Reverend Al Sharpton, Mark Morial of the National Urban League, Jesse Jackson of Rainbow Push and United States Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. CWA Local 3204 President Walter Andrews’ speech at the dais regarding jobs and economic justice incited the 20,000 member audience to cheer in approval as they prepared for the one mile march from the Sylvan Theater, past the Lincoln Memorial, to the newly constructed Martin Luther King Memorial.

In a Wednesday September 28, 2011 press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC organized by Reverend Al Sharpton, CWA President Larry Cohen made it clear that organized labor was in this fight for the long haul, stating that jobs and economic justice will remain the centerpiece of our fight for collective bargaining rights, healthcare, and organizing rights. In his presentation at the Press Club, President Cohen stated, “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.

The NAN Rally and March is but one large scale national effort CWA has engaged over the past year. Our ability to achieve “jobs with justice” and to regain the moral high ground that Americans have given their lives for in the American Civil Rights movement can only be achieved if we work together with like minded national organizations dedicated to serving the people. This event put CWA and its members one step closer to that goal. As the 2012 elections approach we will continue to encourage all of you to coalesce with organizations in your community committed to clear the legal path to the ballot box. It will be then, and only then that we will be able to achieve the kind of political victory that allows us to move progressive policies that help working families.

Special thanks go out to CWA headquarters staff, to Local 2336 President Michael B. Harris and Secretary-Treasurer Brenda C. Savoy, Local 2222 President Jim Hilleary, Local 2108 Vice President Marilyn Erwin, TNG Vice President Bernie Lunzer, WBNG Local President Sheila Lindsay and Executive Director Cet Parks, Local 2106 President Paula Vinciguerra, J. Carl Mayers, President of the NABET Local.52031 and CWA District 2-13 Assistant Jimmy Tarleau for helping to organize our participation. Thanks also to District 2-13 Vice President Edward Mooney and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Annie Hill for their support.