LCLAA remembers dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

Washington, DC - “The fight for equality must be fought on many fronts– in the urban slums, in the sweatshops of the factories and fields. Our separate struggles are really one– a struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity.”

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion for justice and a challenger for equality. Through his work, he sparked a much needed movement of recognition, acknowledgement, and betterment in this country. He brought attention to the intense intersection of racism, poverty, and oppression and helped to establish the momentum that lead to the founding of the constituency groups in the AFL-CIO. 

 In 1966, King wrote the above telegram to Cesar Chavez, noting his personal admiration for Chavez’s work and the shared goals between the Civil Rights Movement and the Labor movement. The relationship between both leaders reminds us of the power of solidarity – solidarity amongst people of color and amongst different movements. Both Chavez and King not only learned from each other but were better advocates for it.  

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are instilled with the reminder that our work is intersectional and far from over. Our fight to improve the lives of all working families nationwide cannot be completed unless it addresses the plights of all. 

On this day, we ask our members and allies to pause and reflect on their efforts to combat the racism and colorism that plagues our communities and to remember that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”