Local 108 Stands Tall at the MLK March of Resistance: Labor Rights are Human Rights
This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the streets of Newark didn’t just echo with the memory of a leader; they vibrated with the footsteps of a movement. RWDSU Local 108 was proud to stand on the front lines as a key endorser and participant in the Martin Luther King March of Resistance, joining a coalition of over 200 organizations to demand justice, dignity, and a fair shake for every worker and family in our community.
The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) co-sponsored the march with RWDSU Local 108. The event kicked off at the iconic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Statue on MLK Blvd. For the members of Local 108, the message was clear: the struggle for labor rights is inseparable from the struggle for civil rights.
For RWDSU Local 108, being part of the March of Resistance is about more than a single day of service, it’s about protecting the very people who keep New Jersey running. Our members live and work in the communities most affected by the policies being protested.
“Dr. King knew that you cannot have racial justice without economic justice,” said Charles N. Hall, Jr., President of RWDSU Local 108. “When we see attacks on labor unions and when we see budget cuts that strip away the safety net for working families, we cannot and will not stay silent. We march because our members deserve a world where they are respected both on the shop floor and in their neighborhoods.”
A Broad Coalition for Change
The march highlighted a range of urgent issues that hit close to home for RWDSU members:
Economic Justice: Opposing domestic policies that benefit the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the working class.
Human Rights: Standing against ICE brutality and advocating for the safety of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Democracy: Defending the right to vote and protesting attempts to undermine democratic institutions.
RWDSU Local 108 joined forces with groups like the New Jersey Poor People’s Campaign, NAACP Newark, and various faith-based organizations. This diversity of voices sent a powerful message, when labor stands with the community, we are an unstoppable force.
The Road Ahead
The demonstration went from the King Statue to the Federal Building on Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey, serving as a visual reminder to elected officials that the labor movement is watching. As we return to our workplaces and head into Black History Month, RWDSU Local 108 carries the spirit of this march with them. Our union remains committed to the ideals of Dr. King – fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, and an end to the systemic inequalities that seek to divide us. RWDSU Local 108 will also be a Major Sponsor of the African American Heritage Statewide Parade in Newark Memorial day weekend and looks forward to continuing this important work.