Street Renamed to Honor 1968 Sanitation Strikers
by Helen Cox | April 04, 2013
Beale Street in front of AFSCME Local 1733 in Memphis has been renamed “1968 Strikers Way.”
MEMPHIS – Early this morning, a stretch of Beale Street in front of AFSCME Local 1733 was renamed “1968 Strikers Way” in honor of the sanitation workers who courageously stood up for racial equality, safer jobs and greater respect.
Pres. Lee Saunders, Sec.-Treas. Laura Reyes and Martin Luther King III joined former strikers and union members from across the country at the renaming ceremony.
More than 1,500 union members and allies marched from the Local 1733 union hall to the National Civil Rights Museum. Local and nationally renowned leaders spoke in front of the historic Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life fighting for racial and economic justice 45 years ago today.
President Saunders rallied the crowd saying, “This is the beginning of a new movement in Memphis and across the country.” Major gains have been won since 1968 but the fight continues. Once again, AFSCME members are fighting for their livelihoods and to keep strong services for Tennessee community members. Threats of privatization loom large in the city, and elsewhere, and they’re facing the largest school district merger in United States history – a merger that threatens to put children's needs last.
Saunders was joined by Rev. Dwight Montgomery of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights and Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream.
Members of the International Association of Fire Fighters held signs reading, “I Am a Fire Man.” Harold Schaitberger, president of the IAFF, said, “The struggles from 1968 are the same struggles today…I don’t care if they have a ‘D’ behind their name or an ‘R,’ we need leaders who will stand up, not step back.”
“Today, we sent a message that the fight isn’t over,” said Keith Johnson, chapter chair for the sanitation workers of Memphis. “We’re going to fight on and fight harder. All we’ve ever asked for is respect for the honest work we do.”
Sec.-Treas. Laura Reyes, Martin Luther King III, Pres. Lee Saunders and IAFF Pres. Harold Schaitberger lead more than 1,500 union members and allies in a march from the Local 1733 union hall to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. (Photos by John Focht)