Working Families Join Selma to Montgomery March

February 29, 2012

Marchers Highlight Workers’ Rights, Voting Rights, Immigrant Rights

(Feb. 29, 2012) -  Working families including nurses, teachers, firefighters, public service workers will join the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee known as the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama starting Sunday March 4, 2012. The march retraces the path across the Edmund Pettis Bridge by civil rights activists in 1965 who were part of the larger voting rights movement.
Working families are under attack across the country - from restrictive voter ID laws to anti-worker initiatives and attacks on new immigrants.   People from diverse walks of life will join together in Selma to re-create the historic march and call for unity around an agenda that uplifts working families.  The six day march will include teach-ins, workshops and interfaith services.   AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler and Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker will take part in the march.
“There continue to be widespread attacks on working families as the 1% aim to silence the 99% by taking away our fundamental rights and freedoms,” said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker.  “But working people have had enough which is why we are gathering together in Selma to show unity and solidarity and to demand a country and economy that works for all of us – not just some of us.  The AFL-CIO is proud to partner with diverse groups to make this happen and we are excited about the participation by working families.”
Also attending the march: Tom Buffenbarger; President International Association of Machinists, Larry Cohen; President Communications Workers of America (CWA), J. David Cox; Sec. Treas. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Maria Elena Durazo; Exec. Sec. Treas. LA County AFL-CIO, Annie Hill; Sec. Treas. CWA, Bob King; President United Auto Workers, Bill Lucy; President Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Lee Saunders, Sec. Treas. AFSCME, Randi Weingarten; President American Federation of Teachers.
Sunday, March 4, 2012         Commemoration of Bloody Sunday / Voting Rights
Marchers will gather in front of Brown Chapel AME Church, 410 Dr. Martin Luther King Street at 1:30 p.m. for the pre-march rally. The march starts at 2:30.
Monday March 5, 2012        Education / Voting Rights
March starts at 9:00 a.m. at US Highway 80 east; just pass the intersection of US 80 and US 41 south, mile marker 88.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012       Black Farmers / Healthcare – Child care / Voting Rights
March starts at 9:00 a.m. from end point, mile marker 99.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012  Workers’ Rights / Voting Rights
March starts at 9:00 a.m. from end point, mile marker 110.
Thursday, March 8, 2012     Immigrant Rights / Voting Rights  
March starts at 9:00 a.m. from end point, mile marker 121.
Friday, March 9, 2012          Culmination of all issues / activities
March starts at 9:00 a.m. from St. Jude’s Educational Institute 2080 W Fairview Ave.
Contact: Amaya Tune (202) 637-5018