Labor’s main celebration of Martin Luther King Jr Day will be participation in the Dallas MLK March and Parade that steps off at 10AM on Monday. Organizer Lou Luckhardt has paid the fee and attended the meetings to get the best deal for our contingent. The good news is that our group will be “Number 15” to step off, which means we will be among the first to finish the parade at Fair Park. There are 250 contingents! Further good news is that the chaos we usually endure at the parade beginning may be lessened.
The bad news is that we have to park our cars at Fair Park by 7AM to get shuttled to labor’s contingent. Luckhardt says that the floats and vehicles will not be muddled together at Holmes and MLK as in previous years; but will be organized elsewhere and brought to the start off point in an orderly fashion. Those of us expecting to ride Gerardo Contreras’ big union float may not be able to find it unless we follow the instructions to gather at the MLK Blvd entrance to Fair Park at 7AM. Luckhardt says that the parking lot is near that entrance and is designated “GEXA.” He suggests we put the "Unit 15" picture below on our phones.
There is a long list of MLK celebrations below.
Politics Hits! We Must Hit Back!
The Dallas Central Labor Council meeting at 7:30 on January 19 at 1408 N Washington will be our first chance to organize for maximum effect on Congress, the Texas Legislature, and upcoming local elections. Candidates are already gathering money or petition signatures and getting ready to file.
Try to get as many working people as possible to get on our list by emailing genelantz.dallasaflcio@gmail.com. We need their email, zip code and, if possible, cell phone number. Subscribe to ed@texasaflcio.org and register to keep up on state and national developments. Retirees should contact organizer Judy Bryant at judy4tara@aol.com.
Our labor council will have to find our strength among volunteers and decide the best way to maximize our effort to help working families this time around. It’s a time to step up!
Elect Labor Leaders
Principal officer Lewis Fulbright says that the Dallas AFL-CIO will nominate candidates for all offices at our January 19 meeting. Elections will be at the February meeting. We have a Financial Secretary Treasurer for principal officer, a president, a vice-president and a sergeant-at-arms to elect. The delegates are selected by their respective unions and the Executive Board members are selected by delegate caucuses. Democracy is sometimes described as painful and slow, but still the absolute best way to do things!
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Jan 13, 6:30P: Advancing the Dream Gala at the University of Texas at Arlington; tickets are $85 (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 13, 7P: Candle Lighting Ceremony at MLK Center in Dallas
Jan 13, 7-10P: DeSoto High School MLK Performing Arts Show Dallas Black Dance Theatre evening of dance and music
Jan 14-27: "Weeks of Action" for diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine. Dallas Peace and Justice Center
Jan 14: A good day to apply for vote-by-mail and to renew deputy registrar status
Jan 14, 10A: Mesquite Community March (begin at Mesquite High School on Belt Line Road and East Gross Street and continue through the downtown district (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 14, 11A: Step Show and Talent Showcase at Bowie High School in Arlington (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 14, 11A: Annual MLK parade from Lancaster’s Historic Town Square (250. N. Dallas Ave,) to Lancaster High School
Jan 14, 1P: A program at the Mesquite Arts Center will showcase student dance, music and spoken word performances and will include remarks from community leaders (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 14, 2P: NAACP Program and Lunch at Georgia Farrow Recreation Center in Irving (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 14, 6:30P: Scholarships and Awards Gala at MLK Center in Dallas
Jan 14, 7P: Poetry Meets Jazz at UTA (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 15, 6P: Dallas Black Dance at Irving Arts Center (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 15, 6P: Ecumenical service at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 15 7:30P: The 40th annual concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 16, 7A: Dallas MLK March & Parade. Rendezvous at the MLK entrance to Fair Park at 7AM. Contact Lou Luckhardt lou.luckhardt@gmail.com
Jan 16, 10A: Free MLK Day of Service Festival at Arlington City Center Plaza (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 16, 9A: Zeb Strong Jr. MLK Day of Service at Mission Arlington
Jan 16, 9A-1P: MLK Parade opens in front of Grand Prairie City Hall
Jan 16, 6:30P: Free Youth Extravaganza at Fielder Church Metro Center in Arlington (Celebrating MLK)
Jan 18: First day for a candidates to file for Dallas City Council races
Jan 19, 7:30P: Monthly meeting for Dallas Central Labor Council. All members of affiliated unions invited. Contact jtomlinson.dallasaflcio@gmail.com
Jan 21: Election day in Farmers Branch
Jan 28, 3-5P: Celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Pecan Shellers’ Strike at Cassiano Park, 1728 Potosi, in San Antonio. City Councilwoman Teri Castillo tweeted a heads-up