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By Rosie Martinez
PHN retiree – SEIU 721
SEIU local 721 members joined a coalition of labor and civil rights organizations in Alabama to march from Selma to Montgomery. The march pays respect to the African American civil rights trail blazers of the last Century and is seeking the repeal of HB 56.
When I first thought about going on the Montgomery to Selma march in Alabama, my thoughts were about the various meetings and work left undone. I thought about leaving my family to fend for themselves. Then, I made the decision to experience an historic event that would ultimately change my life forever.
While marching as I became weak and tired, my thoughts were direct to the spirits of the brother and sisters that went before me. My thoughts were of the courageous pioneers who said, “I will not continue this injustice of spirit, mind, and soul. My human rights, voting rights will not be put asunder for those that wish to deny the undeniable–human rights.” We have endured the physical pain but we know only too well we are marching in the spirit of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and those names that we cannot remember but who are heroes nonetheless.
Today, we are remembering that spirit as we march for voting rights, worker rights, immigrant rights, and to take back our democracy for all human beings. The economy is in crisis but we cannot forget the responsibility to humanize our cause. The movement begins on that road from Montgomery to Selma as blood and violence did not deter that spirit of justice.
Today immigrants are the target of hatred and violence and we cannot stand idle while workers are stripped of their humanity to work and live. And their only crime is a desire to work for the good of all. Today, we stand tall with our African-American brothers and sisters and say “HELL NO”, the rights of workers, voting rights, and immigrant rights will not be systematically taken from us. Today we stand tall marching together to say “WE ARE ONE.” Today I am proud to stand with my union, SEIU, leading the way with labor, immigrants civil right leaders, community, and the nation to say NO on 56 in Alabama and in the spirit of justice and good will we will change the future of our America and our Alabama.
View and comment on photos from the Selma to Montgomery march.