The D.C. Statehood Green Party will join with labor rights activists and other progressive groups on Thursday, May 1, uniting in an expression of solidarity with millions of workers from every continent and country for a May Day Rally and March.
The rally will begin at 5 pm at Malcolm X Park (also known as Meridian Hill Park). Eugene Puryear, the DC Statehood Green nominee for At-Large Member of Council (http://www.EugenePuryear.com), will speak at the rally. Following the rally, a march downtown will begin. (Event contact: Mike Golash, 202-253-4880, [email protected])
“I am honored to be speaking at this event which marks an important day for all those who struggle for respect and greater rights within the workplace,” said Mr. Puryear. “Once I am elected to D.C. Council, the first legislative items I introduce will be a $15 minimum wage and official recognition of a union card check.”
Eugene Puryear’s candidacy has been endorsed by AFSCME Local 2401 and DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition (TENAC). David Schwartzman, DC Statehood Green candidate for “Shadow” U.S. Senator, was also endorsed by TENAC. (See http://gp.org/newsroom/press-releases/details/4/686)
May Day is an international working class holiday. It is a day on which workers review their strength and prepares for struggle against the prevailing status quo of corporate greed and profits over people. May Day honors the struggle for greater dignity and labor rights. It began as a commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre in 1886 when a general strike was called by unions in Chicago during the campaign for an eight-hour work day.
The DC Statehood Green Party has major party status and ballot access in Washington, DC. In recent general elections, Statehood Green candidates have collectively received more votes than Republican candidates, leading many to call Statehood Greens “DC’s Second Party” in terms of election day numbers. The party is affiliated with the Green Party of the United States and accepts no corporate contributions.