Red River Valley Commemorates Dr. King's Labor

Moorhead Mayor Williams, Dilworth Mayor Olson, West Fargo Mayor Mattern, Fargo Mayor Mahoney, Grand Forks Mayor Brown and East Grand Forks Mayor Gander proclaimed April 4th, 2018 "The Day of Dignity and Respect for All American Workers" in honor of the work for economic and racial justice that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was doing in Memphis, standing in solidarity with Memphis sanitation workers, when he was assassinated 50 years ago to the day.

On Monday April 1st, The Grand Forks City Council read the proclamation marking April 4th "The Day of Dignity and Respect for All American Workers" from the City of Grand Forks and presented it to James Weisenberger of the Northern Valley Labor Council and retiree of Grand Forks public works.

Brother Weisenberger spoke on the importance of the sanitation strike in Memphis TN and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. coming to Memphis to speak, rally and march with the sanitation workers.

“In particular, I ask that we remember Echole Cole and Robert Walker, two African-American sanitation workers that were killed on the job in Memphis.” Weisenberger said.

In closing brother Weisenberger spoke on the importance unions to himself and his co-worker during his career as a public works worker.

On the afternoon of April 4th, mayors from Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Dilworth read and presented the proclamation to the AFSCME 1450 members and President Harvey Moos at the Moorhead Sanitation Transfer Station, as they were finishing up work for the day.

The West Area Labor Council/Red River Valley and the Northern Plains United Labor Council, AFL- CIO want to thank AFSCME 1450 members and President Harvey Moos at Moorhead Sanitation for hosting. We want to thank all public employees for everything you do to keep our cities safe, healthy and clean every day.