IBEW President Edwin Hill addressing the crowd at the Saturday rally. Photo courtesy of Workers4America on Flickr.
From Union City–Tens of thousands of workers from across the country gathered in Philadelphia last weekend for the “Workers Stand for America” rally. Olivia Henderson, a LiUNA staffer and OPEIU Local 2 member, rose early Saturday to catch a bus to the rally, her first outside of DC. Henderson said the event was “educational and awesome,” describing it as “very empowering” to be in such a big crowd of people – estimates are around 40,000 – “all in solidarity.” The rally centered on “America’s Second Bill of Rights,” which over 6,800 people have signed, and a call for national attention on jobs and economic opportunity for the middle class. “I’m middle class, too,” said Henderson, of her decision to attend. “It was my duty to be a part of this movement.”