We are a powerful new coalition of educators, clergy, civic, labor, and other leaders, working to denounce the recent slew of smear campaigns, factual distortions, and ugly attacks on AFSCME, The Apollo Alliance, ACORN, SEIU, Van Jones and other organizations and individuals working for social and economic justice. These attacks are clearly part of a broader coordinated effort to weaken the power of diverse groups working to level the playing field in America.
As unemployment, foreclosures, and other problems continue to rise, community, faith, labor, and other leaders are standing together to restore the issues that matter to Americans, and to proclaim, "We will not be divided".
Partial list of participants and supporters:
- Rev. Cecil "Chip" Murray, Senior Pastor (Ret.) First AME Church
- Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Exec. Director, Community Coalition
- Angelica Salas, Exec. Director, CHIRLA
- Father Richard Estrada, CMF/La Placita Church
- Rabbi Jonathan Klein, Exec. Director, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA)
- Father Greg Boyle, SJ, Exec. Director, Homeboy Industries
- Maria Elena Durazo, Exec. Secretary-Treasurer, LA County Federation of Labor
- Mike Garcia, President, SEIU Local 1877 (Justice for Janitors)
- Rev. William Monroe Campbell, Senior Pastor, Mt. Gilead MBC
- Arturo Ibarra, Director, Watts Century Latino Organization
- Betty Day, Director, Watts Gang Task Force
- Mari Lopez, California Partnerships
- Joshua Pechthalt, Vice President, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
- Celes King IV, Director, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
- Michael Bilbrey, First Vice President, CA School Employees Assn. (CSEA)
- Keisha Stewart, Deputy Trustee, SEIU United Healthcare Workers West
- Tim Watkins, Watts Labor Community Action Committee
- SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW)
- Ralph Miller, President, AFSCME Local 685 (LA County Deputy Probation Officers)
- Frank Torres, Political Director, SEIU Local 99
- Kim Duran Portello, Housing Developer, Mercy Housing California
- Noreen McClendon, Exec. Director, Concerned Citizens of South Central LA
- Marilyn Johnson, Exec. Director, SCOPE
- Rev. Mark Whitlock, Christ Our Redeemer AME Church
- Saira Soto, Community/Political Director, SEIU Local 721
- Rev. Eric Lee, Exec. Director, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- SEIU Workers United
- Roxana Tynan, Deputy Director, LA Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)
- Rebecca Thornton, Co-President, National Lawyers Guild, LA Chapter
