May Day In Newark: Labor Activists Will Hold Protests, Marches, ‘Workers Assembly’

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey’s largest city will become a hotbed for worker activism on Friday in solidarity with May Day.

Multiple protests, rallies and events will take place in Newark on May 1, also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day.

Here are three events scheduled to happen Friday in the Brick City:

MAKE POLLUTERS PAY: ‘TAX THE RICH’

A rally will take place in support of a proposed state law that its supporters have dubbed the “Polluters Pay to Make NJ More Affordable Act.”

The EmpowerNJ coalition and other supporters of the bill are kicking off a week of action on May Day, including a 50-mile march that will begin in Newark. A rally is scheduled at 11 a.m. at the Lincoln Statue, 8 Springfield Avenue. Learn more here.

Formerly known as the Climate Superfund Act, the bill would fine companies that have “engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil” since 1995, and have been responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The legislation would generate $2.5 billion annually from an estimated 82 fossil fuel corporations, its sponsors say.

The money collected from companies in violation of the law would be earmarked for flood protection, stormwater and sewage system upgrades, extreme weather preparation, health care related to climate change, upgrades to the electrical grid and energy-efficiency projects.

Paula Rogovin, a representative of Food & Water Watch, drew a connection between the labor movement and the environment.

“We are being dragged into wars for oil and wars for fossil fuels,” she said. “We must fight for renewable energy and environmental justice. We must tax the rich and make the polluters pay.”

• Related: NJ Fossil Fuel Companies Could Face Billions In Fines Under Proposed Law

WORKERS ASSEMBLY

A coalition of activists from New Jersey and New York are organizing a “Workers’ Assembly” in Newark. The public event will take place at 5 p.m. at Hill Hall (Room 107) at Rutgers University, 360 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Participants will march from a rally at Military Park starting at 3 p.m. Learn more here.

The goal is to debate and vote on how to “advance the movement,” including the possibility of running independent candidates in this year’s national elections, organizers said.

According to a news release:

“Workers Assemblies have recently been organized in Minneapolis, Detroit and Madison, Wisconsin, among other cities. This assembly will bring New Jersey into this growing nationwide movement to organize the whole working population into united, democratic institutions. The New Jersey assembly will discuss the following questions, among others: What are our demands? Should we run independent candidates advocating these demands? How do we organize local workers committees in workplaces and neighborhoods to expand the Workers Assemblies? What actions should we take next? How do we cooperate with other Workers Assemblies?”

“To build the power that we need in order to win our demands for the world that is desperately needed, we must have a movement in which we are all leaders and make decisions democratically,” said activist Eric Lerner, a Warren resident.

The Newark May Day events are endorsed by the following organizations: International Luxemburgist Network; Save Gaza, Save Us All; Clifton for Social Justice: Green Party of NJ; Ben Gordon Freedom Caravan and the United Front Committee for a Labor Party. Occupy Bergen County.

WORKERS OVER BILLIONAIRES

A wave of national “Workers Over Billionaires” protests is scheduled for Friday, May 1, including several in New Jersey.

A local protest is being planned in Newark. The rally will start 11 a.m. at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue. A march to the federal building at 970 Broad Street after the rally is also planned.

Activists are making three demands as part of their “Real Affordability Agenda”:

• “Tax the rich: so our families, not their fortunes, come first”
• “No ICE, no war: no private armies to serve authoritarian power”
• “Expand democracy, not corporate rule”

Organizers are also calling for people to avoid shopping or going to work on Friday.

Last week, a coalition of local groups and advocates held a news conference at Bethany Baptist Church about the upcoming May Day rallies.

Some of their demands included increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour, passing pro-union laws, ending racial discrimination in hiring and promotions, and achieving “equal pay for equal work.” Other demands include enforcing “fair contracts,” creating a living wage in the U.S., and supporting paid sick leave, universal child care, “Medicare For All,” free college, the elimination of student debt, and a national federal jobs program to eliminate unemployment.

“This was an historic occasion with labor, community and faith-based [activists] coming together,” said Larry Adams, vice chair of the Newark-based People’s Organization For Progress.

“We are building a popular movement to fight for popular justice,” Adams said. “Today we stand with the workers of the world.”

Several other community leaders and labor representatives urged their neighbors to take action on May Day. They included:

Thomas Giblin, former state assemblyman – “We should all do our part to get a good crowd out for the protest. United we stand, divided we fall. Let’s get the word out on the importance of being there.”

Charles Hall, president of Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union – “We are under attack, the middle class, the poor, working families, and those who have been marginalized. We need to make this the biggest May Day ever.”

Jennifer Higgins, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey – “An educated citizenry is the cornerstone of democracy, and so we need to come out on May 1 to save our democracy.”

Ana Maria Hill, vice president and New Jersey state director of 32BJ SEIU – “I’m ready to take back our country on May Day and fight for our democracy.”

Steve Beatty, president of the New Jersey Education Association – “Unions have always been the bulwark against fascism and the rising tide of totalitarianism. They are afraid of unions because they know the power we have when we come together. The oligarchs are getting richer but we built this country and it’s damn time we take it back. We have to get back to a fairer economy. It’s a matter of economic justice and that’s what unions have always done.”

John Marino, organizer at International Union of Painters and Allied Trades – “May Day is our day … the divide between the haves and have nots has reached a breaking point.”

Terri Corso, representative of Sophia Inclusive Community – “We believe it is not enough to pray. We must get out there and act. We must all say no justice, no peace. Real solidarity is when we protest together.”

Lawrence Hamm, chair of the People’s Organization For Progress – “We are having this press conference today to make a collective call for people to come out and protest and engage in various types of activities on May Day, which is rooted in labor’s struggle for the eight-hour work day, the right to organize unions, and engage in collective bargaining. We want people to come out because working people are struggling, suffering, losing ground, and some are going under.”

Other supporters for Friday’s protest in Newark came from Clifton “Buddy” Smith (president of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1233), and Larry Hirsh (president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 913).

The May Day event in Newark has been endorsed by the People’s Organization For Progress, the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance Planning Committee, Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union RWDSU UFCW AFL-CIO, the New Jersey AFL-CIO, Painters Union IUPAT DC 21, New Jersey Education Association, American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU, Laborers’ International Union of North America Eastern Region, 1199J AFSCME, Essex West Hudson Labor Council, I.U.O.E Local 68, ILA Local 1233, American Federation of Government Employees Local 913, Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association New Jersey, Communication Workers of America Local 1031, NAACP Newark, Food & Water Watch, Empower NJ, Climate Revolution Action Network, Ironbound Community Corporation, Sophia Inclusive Community, and New Jersey Peace Action.

• Related: Protesters Will Rally In Newark For ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ On May Day

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