NAACP takes lead on Oct. 2 jobs march

Note: this article has been slightly condensed for length.

NAACP takes lead on Oct. 2 jobs march

by: Pepe Lozano

July 27 2010


Mobilization is under way for a massive national march and rally Oct. 2 in Washington, where tens of thousands will demand jobs, immigration reform and full funding for public education and health care.

The demonstration is being organized by a wide coalition of civil and immigrant rights organizations, labor and faith-based groups and community leaders. Leading groups include the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of Teachers, the AFL-CIO and the United States Student Association. Nearly 200 groups have endorsed the event.

The march is in part a response to the tea party movement's extreme racism.

NAACP President Ben Jealous (pictured above) is calling the march "One Nation" with the tag line "Working Together." It will be a mass gathering of civil and human rights organizations, but also grassroots citizens from every walk of life, religion and race, he said.

"If any of us are going to get our agendas through, if we're going to get the rights for workers down South to organize by passing the Employee Free Choice Act, if we're going to get jobs created, if we're going to get real resources for schools and teachers' jobs around the country, if we're going to get comprehensive immigration reform through, then we've got to all work together, all for one and one for all," he told the Charlotte Post.

Organizers say it shows that even during hard economic times, civil rights groups, student activists and union members can rally together and make up the winning formula to pressure Congress to pass major reforms that benefit working people.

But it has also became increasingly clear that racist attacks have escalated.

And joblessness continues with no letup, hurting all Americans and hitting communities of color especially hard. The jobless rate for African Americans is 15.4 percent and 12.4 percent for Latinos, compared with 8.6 percent for whites, they note. (For Native American Indians in Minnesota unemployment is exceeding 65% with many people demanding to know why Obama and the Democrats refuse to enforce affirmative action. A.L.M.)

"This is why we are calling for a great march on Washington," Jealous told the recent NAACP national convention. "The NAACP, along with allies and partners, will show America that the solid majority of this nation is ready and willing to fight back and ensure that all of the change that we voted for becomes a reality for all of our children. That ‘America the Beautiful' belongs to us. And that justice and freedom keeps moving forward."

Organizers say the Oct. 2 demonstration will focus on pressing for more government spending on job creation. They hope it will be a show of force to remind lawmakers and the White House that people demand economic recovery and real change.

"People are very excited," said Jealous. "The march is part of a broader civic engagement strategy to make sure we hold the people that they've elected accountable and making sure we get all the change that we voted for."

Jealous said the march will also be a rallying force aimed at encouraging voters to make their voice heard at the ballot box come November.

"We will be in Washington on October 2 and we will be at the ballot box on November 2," he said.

Photo: NAACP President Benjamin Jealous addresses a press conference during the NAACP convention this month. (NAACP)

Two important marches for peace, jobs and justice... August 28 & October 2

1.The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have invited peace organizations to endorse and participate in a campaign for Jobs, Justice, and Peace.   We endorse this campaign and plan to be a part of it.  On August 28, 2010, in Detroit, we will march on the anniversary of that day in 1963 when Walter Reuther, president of UAW, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders joined with hundreds of thousands of Americans for the March on Washington.  In Detroit, prior to the March on Washington, 125,000 marchers participated in the Freedom Walk led by Dr. King. At the march, King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech for the first time before sharing it with the world in Washington. This year, a massive march has been called for October 2 in Washington.  Momentum to build the Washington March will begin in Detroit on August 28th. 

2.Endorse, promote and mobilize for the Saturday, October 2nd "One Nation" march on Washington, DC initiated by 1199SEIU and the NAACP, now being promoted by a growing coalition, which includes the AFL-CIO and U.S. Labor Against the War, and civil rights, peace and other social justice forces in support of the demand for jobs, redirection of national resources from militarism and war to meeting human needs, fully funding vital social programs, and addressing the fiscal crisis of state and local governments.  Organize and build an antiwar contingent to participate in the march. Launch a full-scale campaign to get endorsements for the October 2 march on Washington.

A suggestion: Hold a discussion in your neighborhood, where you go to school or where you work on the books "Getting America Back To Work" by Stewart Acuff and Richard Levins; "Always Bring A Crowd, the story of Frank Lumpkin, steelworker" by Bea Lumpkin; "Working Class USA, the power and the movement" by Gus Hall. Study/discussion groups using these three books will help people better understand the issues and problems and bring them into activities and action.

Education. Organization. Unity. Action.