Is McCarthyism Returning?
“We have entered the third red scare!” – Glenn Heights Mayor Sonja Brown at the September Dallas AFL-CIO meeting
Donald Trump and his Republican underlings tried to re-start the McCarthy witch hunt in America this week. The fightback is showing that they have overreached. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, “When big corporations enable the government to silence their employees, our entire democracy is at risk.” Popular TV personality David Letterman told newspersons far and wide, “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office.”
At the Dallas Central Labor Council meeting on September 18, Leslie Cunningham of the State Employees warned that hundreds of Texas teachers are being threatened with firing. Some have already been fired or pressured into resigning. Mayor Sonja Brown made a historical reference to the red scares around the First World War, the McCarthy period, and the current situation.
The Texas American Federation of Teachers, other unions, and free speech activists everywhere are rallying to the defense. They began with one of the Republicans’ very first victims, fired Professor Dr Tom Alter. Join the free speech movement and send a letter in his defense by clicking here.
At the end of our Council meeting, Vice President Bonnie Mathias announced that droves of TV viewers were leaving Disney channels and affiliates because of free speech issues. A protest specifically against Disney-affiliated stations is being planned for early next week. Contact Annette at 214-507-1283.
Unions Rise to Occasion
Unions are the first line of defense and the best possible way to go on offense. Young Active Labor Leaders at the September 18 meeting announced a union victory at Starbucks. The next morning, YALL supported a strike at another Starbucks store.
Our Council meeting hosted a long line of speakers with news about upcoming organizing drives, street actions, elections, boycotts, special training, and other activities. The “No Kings Day” protests on October 18 will include public employees who are being fired up by Republican anti-worker moves and directed by our labor movement into effective action.
There’s Action for Everybody
Please look at our long list of upcoming activities and support the ones you can. Among the union-initiated activities are these:
An opportunity to support grocery workers who are organizing on September 21 beginning at 1:30 PM. We are asked to go into the Tom Thumb store at 633 W Wheatland Road in Duncanville to help encourage workers there. Contact: tyler.anthony.deluca@gmail.com
City employees, speaking up with all public employees, will rally at Dallas City Hall, 1100 Marilla, at 4:30PM on September 23. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com 409-309-0482
On September 26 at 11 AM, protesters will gather at the Corsicana office of Republican Congressman Jake Ellzey on Beacon Street in Corsicana.. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com
Need More Information?
- Political Committee Earnest Tilley keeps track of all Dallas labor activities: etilley2006@yahoo.com
- Texas Alliance for Retired Americans: Judy Bryant judy4tara@aol.com
- Young Active Labor Leaders: Stu Becker stubecker89@gmail.com
- Donnie Jolly of ATU: donniejolly@yahoo.com
- Katina Range of APWU: katinarange@dallasapwu.org
- Rena Honea of Alliance/AFT: rena@alliance-aft.org
- Dallas AFL-CIO web site: http://texasaflcio.org/dallas
Join Our Solidarity Brigade
Click here to get updates whenever activists are needed. For text alerts, send the word "action" to the phone number 235246. Paste Bit.ly/DallasCLC?r=qr into your browser and join our Dallas political program. Everyone is encouraged to join the national Department of People Who Work for a Living. Please also subscribe to the Texas AFL-CIO weekly newsletter by writing to labor@texasaflcio.org. We are fighting for working families in every available arena.
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Sep 20, 9A: “Make Billionaires Pay” demonstration at 2025 North Central Expressway, McKinney, TX, 75070. More info
Sep 20, 10A: ”Make Billionaires Pay” demonstration at Manske Library by the Tennis Court, 13613 Webb Chapel Road, Famers Branch, Texas, 75234. More info
Sep 21, Noon: “No ICE, No National Guard” rally at Main Street Garden Park, 1902 Main in Dallas. Info at 469-463-8754
Sep 21, 1:30P: “Shop In” at Tom Thumb grocery store, 633 W Wheatland Rd, Duncanville, TX 75116. Contact: tyler.anthony.deluca@gmail.com
Sep 23, 4:30P: Rally for rights of public employees at Dallas City Hall. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com 409-309-0482
Sep 26. 11A: Protest rally at Congressman Jake Ellzey's Corsicana District office on Beacon Street. Contact lou.luckhardt@gmail.com409-309-0482
Sep 30: Government will end writing nearly all checks, including Social Security checks
Sep 30: Possible government shutdown
Oct 1, 12:30P: Dallas Chapter of Texas Alliance for Retired Americans meets at 334 Centre in Dallas. Contact Judy4tara@aol.com or 214-729-0063
Oct 4, 2P: “Save Gaza Mega March” starts at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla in Dallas
Oct 6: Last Day to Register to Vote for the November 4 election
Oct 18, 12P: “No Kings Rally” at Pacific Plaza, 401 N Harwood in Dallas. There is an on-line map showing many more nearby demonstrations
Oct 18, 8A: “Funky Town Clay Shoot” and fund raiser for Tarrant County Central Labor Council at Alpine Range, Fort Worth
Oct 18, 1-6P: Steelworkers retiree talent show at 3626 Marvin D Love Freeway. Info 214-536-2850
Oct 20: First Day of Early Voting in person