Rally Honors Dr. King

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TWU Local 100 observed the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an emotional rally outside the Sheraton Hotel, where contract negotiations were underway.
 
Some 800 members and friends braved the bitter cold to take part.
 
A parade of speakers reflected on Dr. King’s message of justice, and urged transit workers to stand firm.
 
Pastor Michael A. Walrond Jr. of the First Corinthian Baptist Church delivered an invocation and welcomed many of the speakers. The church choir presented an inspired musical program. Frankie D. Evans offered a dramatic reading of a memorable passage from one of Dr. King’s speeches that focused on peaceful civil disobedience to achieve legitimate goals.

Local 100 President John Samuelsen discussed Dr. King’s relationship with TWU and its meaning for us today, as well as reporting on the contract negotiations. Samuelsen said that TWU was supporting Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference both morally and financially from its earliest days.  “When the FBI and many in America still considered Dr. King a dangerous radical, TWU said NO.  TWU said ‘listen to this man, listen to his message.  He is the conscience of our nation.’”
 
 TWU International President James Little greeted the gathering and expressed the International’s unconditional support for its members on the subways and buses.
 
Other labor leaders included: Mario Cilento, President of the NYS AFL-CIO; Vincent Alvarez, President of the NYC Central Labor Council; Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of AFSCME DC 37; Chris Shelton, CWA VP for District 1; SEIU 32BJ President Mike Fishman; and RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.
 
Elected officials included: Congresswoman Yvette Clark; Comptroller John Liu; Former Comptroller Bill Thompson; State Assembly Members Karim Camara and Gustavo Rivera; City Council Members Gail Brewer, Tish James, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Ydanis Rodriguez.
 
Community representatives included: Cecil Corbin-Mark of We Act for Environmental Justice and Molly David of the NYC Parents’ Union.