Tuesday, February 24, 1998
Marchers trumpeting civil rights voice opposition to Prop. 226
Marchers celebrate affirmative action, power of labor unions
PROTEST: Labor groups, community join forces
to support King¹s goals
By Ann Hawkey
Daily Bruin Contributor
Thousands gathered Monday in downtown Los Angeles to show their
remembrance and support for Martin Luther King Jr.¹s
goals.
The march was largely a forum for opponents of Proposition 226
to voice concerns about the initiative, which will be on the June
ballot and could take political power away from unions. Labor
groups joined forces with the community to protest Proposition 226,
as well as other related issues such as affirmative action.
Even the rain could not dampen the spirit of the rally as the
Compton High School Band helped keep the atmosphere upbeat. Some
marchers energetically sang songs reminiscent of the Civil Rights
Movement, while others chanted in Spanish, ³What do we want?
Justice! When do we want it? Now!²
Civic leaders such as the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, California
state chair Danny J. Bakewell Sr. and many others attended the
march, which was sponsored in part by the Rainbow Coalition and the
Brotherhood Crusade.
The march began at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and ended
at the Ronald Reagan State Building.
Many groups came to the march to protest Proposition 226, which
opponents have labeled the ³Anti-Labor Initiative.²
³This partially deceptive proposition is aimed at the heart
of the democratic process,² said Rick Chertoff, executive
director of the western region of the Jewish Labor Committee.
Local union 660, representing Los Angeles County workers,
opposes Proposition 226 because it will ³put unions in an
uncomfortable position because of new yearly fees,² said
Tommie Shaw, member of the Local 660 executive board.
Proposition 226 would require unions to gain employee
authorization for payroll deductions that would be donated toward
union political issues.
Another political issue that concerned unions attending the
march Monday was Proposition 209.
Several organizations Monday showed their opposition to
Proposition 209, which eliminated affirmative action in public
entities.
³We are standing up for affirmative action,² said Jim
Hard of the California State Employee Association.
³Anybody that thinks 400 years of racism can be overcome by
20 to 30 years of affirmative action doesn¹t know or
doesn¹t care,² he said.
³How jobs and admission to schools are given is not
equal,² said Elenore A. Williams. ³Minorities need a
level playing field.²
Supporters of Proposition 209 claim the law helps eliminate
unfair hiring practices and college admissions based on race rather
than merit.
Affirmative action was one way in which the ³Save the
Dream² march united labor and the community.
³This is a good way to express that the community and labor
are on the same level,² said Fred Pascual of Local 11, a union
of hotel and restaurant workers.
³This sends a clear message that when we get organized we
can get things moving.²
Strong opinions and a desire for change were not the only
reasons for the large turnout. Many came to express their hopes for
a better future for their children.
³We want our children to have the same opportunity as
everyone else,² said Cecilia Ruiz of United Farm Workers.
³What gave me the motivation to march here is for my
grandchildren to have a better future than myself,² said Marie
White.
The day¹s common theme was King¹s dream.
³It¹s all about keeping Martin Luther King¹s
dream alive,² said Ruiz. ³It was 30 years ago he died and
here we are fighting for the same things.²
³I treasure the man who had high values and was willing to
stand up for those values, not only for himself, but for his family
and mankind,² said Ralph L. Franklin vice president of United
Food and Commercial Workers International.
³We want then to keep hope alive that there is justice in
America and we have to work together to prevail,² he said.