Members of the Retiree Committee greet parade spectators
SEIU Local 99 members joined the 28th Annual “Kingdom Day Parade” on January 19, 2013 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and recommit to “building his dream.” We marched alongside a float depicting a mural of Dr. King surrounded by images of Local 99 members that highlighted the importance of our work in education: cafeteria workers who ensure children eat healthy meals, school bus drivers who make sure students get to school safely and on time, maintenance workers who make sure students learn in a clean environment, child care providers who lay the foundation for lifelong learning, and teacher’s aides who mentor and support students. The float illustrated how Dr. King’s dream was shaped by those who raised and nurtured him, and how those of us who work with children and young people today are creating the leaders of tomorrow.
Many retired members of SEIU Local 99 also joined the parade. They represented the responsibility we all have of passing on our history and passing on Dr. King’s dream to future generations.
“As education workers, this is an opportunity to reflect on how our daily work builds on Dr. King’s dream,” said SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Courtni Pugh. “We know that, for Dr. King, education was inextricably bound to the struggle for equality, opportunity and civil rights. This cannot be lost as our schools, colleges and early learning programs struggle with budget deficits. To diminish education, is to defer the dream for our children.”
“As we march, we recommit to fighting for Dr. King’s dream,” added Courtni. “We gather strength as we look to the work still ahead of us to ensure safety in our schools, combat hunger in our classrooms, defend good jobs in our communities, and secure equal access to quality education for all our children.”
