October 15, 2011
As Prepared for Delivery

It is an honor to be here today as we celebrate the legacy of a man whose words moved people, whose vision inspired a generation and whose leadership transformed America.

I am proud to be joined today by 1199SEIU President George Gresham, and more than five thousand SEIU members and their families.

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to a crowd of healthcare workers in New York.

For the workers - all members of 1199SEIU - King's depiction of two Americas was a lived reality. But the link between economic justice and racial equality was a source of hope.

Through their union, these workers sought justice.

And through King's words, they saw a pathway to racial equality.

But here, today, as we honor the vision that Dr. King set forth, we must contend with the reality that these two Americas still exist.

At a moment when corporations are reporting record profits, so many of our friends, neighbors and family members are searching for employment.

There are too many Americans like Quandra Blue - a patient care technician and mother of two from Baltimore. Quandra has a job, but still struggles to get by.

Quandra is so dedicated to her children, that for years she worked the night shift just to put food on the table and pay the rent.

After 8 years on the job, the night shift wages that Quandra was once promised are no longer, forcing Quandra and her daughter to move into her grandmother's house.

For Quandra - and millions of others just like her - the other" America is not just a quote from Dr. King, it's a daily reality.

In his speech to 1199SEIU members, King explained, "There is something wrong with the policies, the priorities, and the purposes of our nation now. And we've got to say it in no uncertain terms."

More than 40 years later, working people continue to embody this legacy, boldly standing up for justice and equality.

Occupy Wall Street and the growing movement of fed up Americans across the country demanding GOOD JOBS NOW is a contemporary tribute to Dr. King.

And it is only through this collective action that we will force politicians to stop ignoring the "other" America.

Today, as we reflect on Dr. King's legacy, we are reminded that through economic justice we can achieve racial equality.

And that when we focus on our common values and a common belief about America, we can achieve progress.

This monument is a symbol of that all that is possible for our families, our communities and for America.

But a monument isn't enough.

To truly honor Dr. King's legacy, we must meet this moment of continued injustice with the same integrity, fortitude and resolve that King embodied.

We must stand up, link arms and fight for one America.

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

"

###