Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Death

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is joining the DUE Justice Coalition to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis on Wednesday.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King and the cause for which the civil rights leader traveled to Tennessee, where he was gunned down by an assassin on April 4, 1968.

We will bear witness – commemorating King’s legacy and vision on Wednesday, April 4:

Event: Rally & Commemoration of Dr. King’s Death
Date: Wednesday, April 4
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: CT Supreme Court, 231 Capitol Ave, Hartford
Questions: Contact Ann Pratt at ann.prattccag@gmail.com

Dr. King was assassinated just one day after he delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop“ speech in Memphis. He traveled there to address a rally supporting a strike by 1,300 sanitation workers represented by AFSCME Local 1733. Soon thereafter, the strikers – known by their iconic sign, “I Am A Man“ – won their fight for dignity and respect on the job, an achievement that became an important milestone not only for AFSCME, but for the civil rights movement.

Labor unions, community groups, elected officials, and activists will gather on the steps of the Connecticut Supreme Court and march to the state Capitol for a prayer vigil and remembrance.

We will join in an urgent, common bond to act together – for a living wage, for quality affordable health care, for fully funded public schools, racial and ethnic justice, a strong democracy and an economy that works for all of us.