The rally began with a variety of speakers from farm laborers to baristas to teachers all stressing the importance of solidarity and workers rights.
Speaker Katie Giede represented the Unions of Southern Service Workers. She says they’re pushing back against the idea that all fast food workers are teenagers who don’t need benefits. She stated, “Teenagers cannot work at midnight when you’re drunk and trying to come in to get a waffle to sober up. It’s grown women. It’s your grandmother still working. It’s your aunts your uncles. It’s the people of this community.”
Amaia Ward is with the Teamsters local 728. She says workers deserve every right and opportunity, “We will not be replaced by artificial intelligence. We will not be replaced by cheap labor and we will not be stripped of our dignity. Come 2028 teamsters will secure an even stronger contract.”
The rally concluded with a march with stops at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office and City Hall.
