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| FOR JOBS, EDUCATION, EQUALITY AND LABOR RIGHTS: UE General Executive Board member Larsene Taylor (right) helps hold some of the key demands made by participants in the fourth annual HKonJ March for social justice last Saturday in Raleigh, NC. Helping hold the banner, at left, is UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley. |
UE General Executive Board member Larsene Taylor led a spirited contingent from UE Local 150 in Saturday's HKonJ (Historic Thousands on Jones Street) march for social justice, sponsored by the NAACP, UE and other labor, religious, civil rights and community organizations.
Members from the state, municipal and private sector chapters of Local 150, North Carolina Public Service Workers joined the march. Municipal Council leader Nathanette Mayo sang songs of freedom to open the protest outside North Carolina's General Assembly building.
A delegation from UE 160, the Virginia Public Service Workers came to North Carolina to join the demonstration. UE 160 President Brian Taylor led the group. Also among those marching was UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley.
'Repeal 95-98'
Major demands advanced by the protesters included jobs, education and repeal of the ban on collective bargaining by public employees. Many marchers wore gags or armbands saying, "Repeal 95-98" to symbolize their opposition to the law that denies public workers the right to a union contract.
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| UE LOCALS: UE members from Locals 150 (North Carolina Public Service Workers Union) and 160 (Virginia Public Service Workers Union) pause for a group photo during Saturday's events. |
The annual march for social justice had a note of special significance this year as it also marked the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) at Shaw University 50 years earlier. The march began on the Shaw University Campus, where a conference on the founding of SNCC will be held in April.
The HKonJ March and Assembly are usually held on the second Saturday of February, but had to be rescheduled for February 27 this year because of a snow storm.
More information and additional links: http://carolinajustice.typepad.com/hkonj/.