Woodlawn workers’ anti-racist leader on Omar Thornton tragedy

“These tragic stories are born from the hateful racist people in positions of authority that exploit and take advantage of the current circumstance we’re in, using the economic, health care, immigration and housing issues to oppress laborers and keep them from speaking out for fear of losing their jobs and not being able to provide for their families. The Omar Thornton story is one that we are all too familiar with, having to deal with racist bosses and an environment filled with hate. It’s not that hard to put two and two together and know that he snapped, having his human natural animal instincts of survival kick in as he felt alone and threatened with his livelihood, character, way of life, etc.

We as a people must increase our efforts because racism and oppression are running rampant everywhere. The other major factor has to be that the unions need to be cleansed of officials that are in bed with management and do not defend their rank-and-file members. It is that disconnect which creates such a weakness and the lack of integrity that allows many big companies and businesses to do what they want and think they can get away with it.

“We as laborers must take back our unions, remove those officials that are corrupt and replace them with leaders that stand on foundations of integrity, equality and social justice. We have fought too hard and have sacrificed too much in the past to allow our rights and dignity as working men/women to be stripped away from us in this present time. The new civil rights movement is the labor movement and if we are going to overpower and overcome the powers that be, then the unions must consolidate and form an alliance along with the community to fight against racism as well as other issues that affect us all. ... And the time is NOW!!!”

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