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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2012 CBTU International Convention
Registration Link

Statement by William Lucy, President,
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

on the Occupy Wall Street Movement in NYC and Other Cities

Bill Lucy11

CBTU stands in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement and supports the local mobilizations spreading rapidly across America. These protests give voice to the swelling anger and deep pain caused by the Wall Street rip-off perpetrated by big banks, greedy financial institutions and the politicians they have bought and paid for.

With unemployment at depression levels in African American communities and the jobless rate for young black workers at an intolerable 35 percent – three times the national rate – we share common ground with Occupy Wall Street demands to create jobs NOW; stop corporate greed NOW; and create a fairer society NOW. It is unconscionable for Wall Street profiteers to sit on $2 trillion while working families lose their homes in foreclosure and students sink deeper into the quicksand of school loan debts.

The growing solidarity between the labor movement and social protests like Occupy Wall Street has reinforced CBTU’s belief that the ‘separateness’ of our individual struggles is superficial; we are one. From the retired social worker to the 4^th grade teacher to the third shift nurse, we know this is our fight. From the neophyte graphic designer to the talented but unemployed baby-boomer, this is our fight.

That’s why we invite all supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement to join CBTU and a growing alliance of labor, civil rights and social justice organizations in Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 1 – 4, for a historic conference to frame a common agenda for 2012 to fight back against those who want to take what is rightfully ours.

And on this day of mass organizing for social justice across the country, it is fitting and necessary for CBTU to recognize the passing of one the greatest warriors in the civil rights movement – the late Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who died Oct. 5^th in Birmingham, Alabama. This 89-year-old icon who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy was fearless – surviving beatings, bombings, fire hoses and vicious police dogs. He mentored a generation of young activists who applied his nonviolent methods and wisdom to change America and uphold the dignity of oppressed people around the world. Our prays and condolences go out to the Shuttlesworth family.

For more information, contact:
Dwight Kirk (202) 257-3966; dwight@d-flat.com

CBTU Support 2011

We Are One Conference Registration Form

A CALL TO ACTION IN PHOENIX, ARIZONIA - DECEMBER 1-4, 2011

On December 1– 4th at the Phoenix Convention Center,100 North Third Street, Phoenix, Arizona our “WE ARE ONE” Coalition will be moving from defending ourselves during this last election cycle to “Moving America Forward” as the next step in the evolution of the "We Are One" movement.

We will hold this conference to educate, agitate, and motivate people who are concerned about issues of importance to the country in general and the underserved communities in particular. You are invited to join us.

We are bringing together like minded individuals and organizations to implement a plan to change the landscape of politics and the conscientiousness in our collective communities. An agenda will be presented addressing issues on immigration, voter education, voter suppression, voter registration, voter turnout, human rights, jobs, education, housing, health care, trade, and trade agreements.

We see this conference as the beginning of a greater movement where we do not talk about what others are doing to us, but we start demanding actions be taken which reflect the true nature of this country and lives up to its founding creed,"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

We call on you to join the convening organizations at this historic conference and pledge to help us “Move America Forward” to be the great country it can be...a country which genuinely cares for all of its citizens.

Click here to download a copy of the registration form and hotel information. We hope to see you there. For additional information, call 202-778-3318 or email cbtu1@hotmail.com.

“WE ARE ONE”

Convening Organizations:

as of September 23, 2011

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI)

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)

Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)

Pride at Work (PAW)

Black Caucus of State Legislators

Congressional Black Caucus

National Caucus of Black Mayors

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

National Policy Alliance

Rainbow PUSH

We Are One Conference Registration Form

Welcome

Welcome to the website of CBTU, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. CBTU is the fiercely independent voice of Black Workers within the Trade Union Movement.

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