|
CIVIL-HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE UPDATE
12/29/2011
I would like to thank our Executive Board and
membership for allowing me to attend the Civil-Human Rights
Conference at Black Lake in October. It was the best conference
ever. This was echoed by everyone that was there. Our new Director,
Miguel Foster, (our former Service Representative), UAW staff and
the speakers/leaders from many national organizations did a
tremendous job teaching and informing us about collaborating with
others to fight and support common causes and injustices that affect
us all.
On Sunday, October 16,th
the “rescheduled” unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
took place in Washington, DC. There were several thousand people in
attendance at the dedication; unfortunately on this day many
couldn’t get close to the monument because of the many speakers and
President Barack Obama and family were there. President Obama also
gave closing remarks that ended with singing by Stevie Wonder, who
sang “Happy Birthday to Ya”, that he wrote for Dr. Martin Luther
King back in 1983.
The committee would like to thank everyone that donated items toward
our joint clothing drive with the company in November for the
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless ( NEOCH). In December the
committee and company will be going to the Cuyahoga County Family
and Children Services-Jane Edna Building to help sort and wrap gifts
for foster children and the less fortunate.
Finally, it has been a year since we lost “Our Brother’s Keeper”
Marcus Green. He, for always, will truly be missed; his untimely
passing is still a shock to us all. Tavis Smiley, a talk show host
and commentator, would always say: “What will your DASH say on your
tombstone?”What he meant was while we are here on this earth what
are you doing? Marcus did a lot. I personally respected him for his
loyalty to this union, friends, the support he gave me for the
things I was involved in, but most importantly the dedication he had
toward his family. It’s not easy juggling work, union and family.
Truly Marcus Green loved his family and was always there for them.
We love you and miss you, Bro.
The Civil-Human Rights committee wishes you all a blessed, safe and
wonderful holiday season.
Karon Waites Jr.
UAW Local 1050 Civil-Human Rights Chairman
|
