We invite you to join our brothers and sisters from AFSCME in the I AM 2018 campaign, as we memorialize the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., struck down in the struggle for justice, and call attention to the struggles working people are still facing today.
We ask you to join us on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. Eastern for a national minute of reflection.
We particularly wish to remember Echol Cole and Robert Walker, the sanitation men crushed to death on Feb. 1, 1968, at 4:20 p.m., in the compactor of their malfunctioning, obsolete truck, in which they had sought shelter from a downpour. They were 36 and 30 years old, respectively, trying to raise a family on the minimum wages paid by the city. Their deaths sparked the walkout of 1,300 fellow sanitation workers.
Our brothers and sisters from AFSCME Local 1733 in Memphis are organizing a solidarity march honoring the sacrifices of Echol and Robert for their contributions to their community. I hope you can join the minute of silence on Thursday at 1pm.