The Rhode Island AFL CIO stands united in saying Black Lives Matter

On Wednesday, June 17, working people from Rhode Island will join thousands of people from across the country in a Workers First Caravan, an all-out action of national solidarity calling for implementation of America’s Five Economic Essentials, passage of the HEROES Act, and in recognition of the fact that Black Lives Matter.

For the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, America's 5 Economic Essentials are:

• Keep front-line workers safe and secure.
• Keep workers employed and protect earned pension checks.
• Keep state and local governments, our public schools and the U.S. Postal Service solvent and working.
• Keep America healthy—protect and expand health insurance for all workers.
• Keep America competitive—hire people to build infrastructure.

But also, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, and the affiliated unions who make up our membership, recognize the original sin of slavery as a stain upon our nation.

We understand that part of its tragic legacy is the systemic racism and implicit bias that divides the working class and fuels oppression in our worksites and in our communities.

We demand justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and the countless other Black men and women whose lives have been stolen by racist systems and we support the youth-led movements that fill the streets of our nation in protest of this long standing injustice.

We pledge to center our efforts on internal organizing that challenges and dismantles racism that exists in our organizations.

We call on our brothers and sisters in law enforcement to be supportive of reforms that will eliminate racism and racist behavior.

We will work to root out racism wherever it may shelter and we will mobilize, stand in solidarity, and fight alongside all of those who are seeking a better world.

Increased unionization is the most important element in achieving economic equality for all workers. Therefore we will organize the unorganized and create a better world for all working families in the state of Rhode Island.

The caravan will start at the West River Street/Corliss Street intersection and proceed around the postal center, with stops at the Providence Teacher Union Hall and the Stop & Shop on West River Street before travelling to a non-union construction site on Branch Avenue with a history of worker safety concerns.

Additional caravans from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico will also be participating in solidarity actions.

WHO: Working People from Across Rhode Island

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17 at 3:00 PM

WHERE: West River Street, Corliss Street intersection, Providence, Rhode Island