AFSCME Florida Statement On Anniversary of Dr. King’s Assassination

AFSCME Florida Council 79 President and International Vice President Vicki Hall released the following statement today on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination:

“Fifty-five years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Memphis to help rally the community around 1,300 AFSCME sanitation workers who had gone on strike after two discriminated African American workers were killed on the job. His show of support for the freedom of those workers to have a voice on the job, to bargain for dignity and respect, the very freedom to pursue a better future, cost him his life.

“Make no mistake, our efforts to protect our freedoms on the job here in Florida are a direct continuation of his work. His call to action is our call to action. His values are our values. His struggle is our struggle.

“We honor his legacy by continuing the fight for freedom, equality and prosperity for all working people and their families. We must defeat SB256 because to make second class citizens out of public service workers simply because of the work they do is a step backwards for Florida. It is in opposition the values of our state, the values that AFSMCE members fight for — and those that Dr. King died for.”