On October 2nd, people from all walks of life — progressives, conservatives, immigrants, college kids, senior citizens, LGBT people, etc. — will take part in the “One Nation, Working Together” march on Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial.
Sponsored by a coalition of over 170 human and civil rights organizations, labor unions, environmental groups, and faith-based organizations, the march is a response to new assaults on civil and human rights and declining public school systems. Several national LGBT groups, such as the National Black Justice Coalition, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work, are involved.
“Everyone deserves the right to find and keep a job in a safe work environment with a living wage,” says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “This is about fundamental fairness. This includes ensuring people are not discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. It’s about passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. It’s about ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ It’s about ensuring people get a fair shake and are able to support and care for their families. It’s about real lives and livelihoods.”
The Memphis committee of “One Nation, Working Together,” chaired by Deidre Malone, will take a bus of 50 local people to the march. The Memphis Branch of the NAACP is asking individuals who can’t attend the march to make a contribution of $80 to sponsor an unemployed person who’d like to attend.
For additional information about “One Nation, Working Together,” contact Deidre Malone at dmalone@cmgpr.com.
