Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last campaign is still bringing communities together as they fight for equality and respect in the workplace.
The 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike in Memphis, Tennessee, was a social movement that impacted many people who battled low wages and unfair labor treatment.
A free documentary screening of “At the River I Stand,” a film concerning King’s last days, is in Tampa Thursday.
“This documentary is a great view of not just union activity, but union and community activity and the interaction between the two,” said John Streater, a retired adjunct history professor from the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College.
The event will allow people to connect with others who have dealt with similar labor and workforce issues both in the past and the present.
“It brings home the discussion of viewing that historical event with what's going on now, and what needs to go on now. People have been talking about working one job if they get it, two jobs to survive, and every once in awhile I hear about people trying to cover three jobs to make it,” said Streater.
After the film, there will be a panel discussion moderated by historian Fred Hearns.
“Having this discussion, I think, will open people up to say ‘okay, you have that problem let me get you together with somebody over here that's doing something about that problem’ and that people see a connection,” said Streeter.
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 28 starting at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Hillsborough Classroom Teacher Association Hall, 3102 N Habana Ave., Tampa, Fla.
Other panelists include Ray Arsenault from USF St. Petersburg, Reverend Bernice Powell Jackson, Anthony Cantu from Future Florida Labor Leaders and the Teamsters and Navita Cummings-James from USF Tampa.
