Supporting the upcoming May 1 protests, strikes and other
actions will clearly demonstrate that unions are ready to be a champion of the
rising Latino demographic. Conversely, sitting on the sidelines will mark us as
bystanders to racist repression.
By Peter Olney and Rand Wilson, Stansbury Forum
April 2, 2017
The buzz about a Day without Immigrants on May 1, 2017 is
growing. Spanish radio is already churning with calls for strikes, rallies and
demonstrations on May 1. This movement recalls the giant mobilizations of May
1, 2006 that occurred in response to proposed draconian anti-immigrant federal
legislation called the Sensenbrenner Immigration Bill.
May Day has its historic origins in the nineteenth century
struggle for the eight-hour day. In many cities on May Day in 2006, the marches
and rallies proved to be the largest in history. Industries that relied on
immigrant labor were paralyzed as millions of workers responded to the call for
a Day without Latinos (also called the Great American Boycott). Labor
participated unevenly in these rallies and mostly in places where the
membership in service unions was predominately Latino. This year, in the
turmoil surrounding the Trump Presidency, May 1 could be a great opportunity
for the labor movement to flex its muscles and build its future.
Labor’s participation is important to the future of American
politics.[..]
Read the full article:
1997: Farmworkers demonstrating, Salinas, CA. Photo: Robert Gumpert |
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