WRAP UP: "We Are One" April 4 Solidarity Day Events
North Carolina honored Dr. King's sacrifice for workers' rights
Nationwide, over 1,200 Solidarity Day events were held, including about a dozen held in North Carolina to commemorate the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 43 years ago in Memphis, TN where he had returned to stand by sanitation workers in their demand for collective bargaining and equal protection under the law.
Organizers in Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro and elsewhere pulled off a string of successful events.
In Raleigh, we had a great turnout - at least 200 people came out for the 15-Minute Silent Protest in the middle of the day on a Monday! Aside from being a bit windy, the weather was perfect. Folks were really great about using the signs we had - which formed the core of the message at our silent event - and respecting the ground rules. In 15 minutes, not one participant spoke or moved about. For 15 minutes with 200 protesters out in downtown Raleigh, you could hear the birds chirp and the leaves rustling in the breeze. It was an awesome and powerful moment! We think people left feeling they were part of something special.
Charlotte, Asheville, and Greensboro held rallies to mark April 4. Here's what Western NC CLC President Mark Case had to say:
"The Rally went well even under threat of thunderstorms. Luckily, they held off until we were done! Between 125 and 150 people attended, which maybe does not sound big, but it was the most diverse group I have been with! There was a few people from every kind of group. It was exciting and uplifting; and I think everyone was glad that they attended."
Congressman Heath Shuler (D-11) and State Senator Martin Nesbitt both issued statements supporting our Solidarity Day actions in Western NC. Very cool!
Click here to see pictures from our Charlotte and Raleigh events.
Here's a sampling of the media coverage we received in North Carolina:
We Are One rally in honor of King
Triangle Tribune
Silence to mark 43rd anniversary of King's slaying
News & Record - Online
Protesters silently show support for collective bargaining
News & Observer - Online
Hundreds 'Stand in Solidarity' to continue Dr. King's legacy
News 14 Carolina - Raleigh
Crowd led by NAACP and AFL-CIO gathers for 'We Are One' rally
News 14 Carolina - Charlotte
Public workers rally support
Asheville Citizen-Times
Silent protest highlights worker rights
North Carolina News Network - Online
Rally for worker rights
Charlotte Post, The
March focuses on workers' rights
Daily Reflector - Online, The
Union makes point in silence
News & Observer - Online
Video - WBTV-CLT (CBS) - Charlotte, NC
WBTV-TV
Video - WTVD-RAL (ABC) - Raleigh, NC
WTVD-TV
WECT (NBC) - Wilmington, NC
WECT-TV
Go to www.We-R-1.org to find more info about other events held, to read event reports, and to see pictures shared by folks who were there.