The Million Worker March Movement will pay tribute to the legacy of Chris Silvera on Saturday, Oct. 17. That is the 22nd anniversary of the Million Worker March, which took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on Oct. 17, 2004.
Silvera was the longtime leader of Teamsters Local 808 in Long Island City, Queens, New York. He was also the first elected chairman of the Teamsters National Black Caucus and was an initiator of the Million Worker March.
Along with a tribute to Silvera, the meeting will honor Brenda Stokely, a co-founder of the Million Worker March and former president of AFSCME District Council 1707, as well as other initiators.
On the Zoom call, union activists and organizers of movements for peace and justice will discuss aspects of and solutions to the current crisis threatening workers around the world, organized and unorganized.
Panelists defending Palestine and Cuba will raise ways people can work to grow their campaigns.
The Million Worker March wants to build a unifying movement to be able to press the leadership of organized labor to take on the murderous attacks by ICE and to raise rank-and-file consciousness. In the dockworkers’ expression of solidarity: ”An attack against one is an attack against all.”
Trade unionists working in production, services, education, and medicine will be talking about how to gain control of AI, how to get the language in their union contracts, how workers can fight for scientific development that serves social needs and not the bosses’ profits and/or war drive.
The leader of a Teamster local will talk about the drive to organize gig workers and how Uber, Lyft and Roadie workers are fighting for the protection of labor rights that should protect all workers.
They’ll be talking about the toxic and debasing invasion of data centers into workers’ and oppressed communities and how to organize the opposition.
Demands on the poster and issues for the October 17 MWM panelists include: End the genocide in Palestine • End the war on Iran • Hands off Cuba, Venezuela and Philippine activists • No U.S. blockades! • No ports for war – Support the Oct. 30 Mediterranean port workers’ action! • Take back what the billionaires have stolen! Free education, health care, housing, transportation, clean energy • Defend reproductive rights and trans lives • Workers’ control of AI • No layoffs • No speedup, No AI for the police, ICE or the military • Organize for May Day and a general strike • No Kings! • Defend Voting Rights.
The inspiring program will present the tremendous accomplishments and victories of Chris Silvera, the Jamaican-born leader of Teamster Local 808. You’ll also find out how Brenda Stokely played a crucial role in the union movement to fight racism and improve social services for many.
Join the Zoom call and find out why you and/or your organization can be more powerful by joining together in the Million Worker Movement.
Oct. 17 Zoom meeting at noon Eastern (9 a.m. Pacific): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85961596818?pwd=WaCulmZ15CaubDyJVY2bay6SARUNfi.1 Meeting ID: 859 6159 6818. Passcode: 813841.
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