Utica, New York: Central New York Citizen Action and other labor and community groups will be sponsoring the Third Annual May Day rally to commemorate past human and labor rights victories and continue the struggle for social justice for workers, the elderly and disabled, immigrants, and people of color. It will held from 6 to 9 p.m.on Tuesday, May 1 at the DeSales Center, 309 Genesee Street, Utica. The event is open and free to the public.
The May Day Rally will feature food, music, dancing, speakers, films, and opportunities for activism. There will be a Maypole for dancing. Soul food will be provided by Theresa Weston. Among the speakers will be local journalist/ magazine founder/editor Jeanette Lenoir and labor activist Bill Perrotta. Performers will include Ritmo Caribeno Youth Dancers, Jeasy, J. Schnitt, Kevin Keatin, and Steven Zacaroli. Persons will be able to be part of a Twitter and Facebook storm to express their opposition to proposed federal budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration affecting housing, education, social security, SNAP, and other human service programs. Prizes will be given out for a contest regarding events in the history of the labor, civil rights, and social justice movement
The DeSales Center is across the street from the Munson-Williams Proctor Institute in Downtown Utica. Parking is available next to the building. More information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/events/146963122812096/
“May Day is the day to bring together all the important struggles going on and show our support for labor and human rights,” said John Furman of Citizen Action. “We will stand up for workers, immigrants, disabled, LGBTQ, and people of color and oppose budget cuts, attacks against unions, and threats to our democracy, the arts, and the environment It has never been more important to stand with immigrants and demand our government respect the rights of all people.”
A special focus of the rally will be to protest President Trump’s proposed draconian budget cuts. He unveiled draft legislation on April 25 to cut housing benefits that help America’s poorest seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and other people afford to keep roofs over their heads. President Trump will soon ask Congress to cut (or “rescind”) funding that policymakers have previously enacted for appropriated programs, undermining the recent bipartisan deal to fund the federal government for 2018 and 2019. Persons impacted will be videotaped as part of an on-line protest.
For more information, 315-725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.
