On August 21, the Kennedy Center fired all of dance programming, a clear act of union-busting. The workers, Malik Burnett, Mallory Miller and Jane Raleigh were union activists and supporters of the Kennedy Center unionizing effort: speaking out for the union's rights at the World Pride Labor March, in front of the National Labor Relations Board, and for leading a petition for worker safety. They were given no formal cause for their firing.

But we know the cause: UNION-BUSTING!

The Kennedy Center and its interim President Richard Grenell know that without unions they can continue to fire workers that don't align with the boss's politics. Rick knew he couldn't fire them individually, so he just erased their division.

They were fired for exercising their First Amendment freedom to organize and speaking out about fighting for dignity in their workplace. The arts community and labor movement is rising up in solidarity with the fired workers for defending others.

• All three members of the Dance Programming Team be immediately reinstated to their jobs with full backpay.

• The Kennedy Center immediately recognize the Kennedy Center United Arts Workers union, exactly as the bargaining unit was submitted to the NLRB in their petition for an election.

The Kennedy Center is America’s stage and belongs to the people. Not Donald Trump and not President Richard Grenell.