Remembering a Leader of the Memphis Sanitation Strike

by Kate Childs Graham  |  August 01, 2012

AFSCME grieves the loss of Joe Warren, one of the original sanitation workers who participated in the historic 1968 strike in Memphis, Tenn., that was supported by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Warren passed away last week at 91.

When 33 sanitation workers were fired in 1965, Warren, of Local 1733, organized house meetings and fought to get those jobs back. It is even said that he created the now-famous slogan, “I am a man.” He was a founding member of Local 1733.

“Joe Warren was a true hero, a champion in both the civil rights and the labor movements,” AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders said. “His vision and his leadership made a real difference in the history of our union and our country. At AFSCME, our hearts go out to his family and friends. The challenges Brother Warren overcame in his many years of activism will continue to inspire us for years to come.” 

Watch a clip of Warren reflecting on the famed Memphis sanitation strike:

In April 2011, Warren was honored at the White House with seven other members of Local 1733. Representing the 1,300 sanitation workers who participated in the strike, they were enshrined in the U.S. Department of Labor’s “Labor Hall of Fame.”

His funeral takes place Saturday at Hill Chapel Baptist Church in Memphis.