***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, OCT. 22***

Contact: Ella Sogomonian | ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org | (415) 686-5075

Civil rights leaders organize “Defend the Vote” rally in SF

SF Board Supervisors, labor leaders, and civil rights attorneys gather at City Hall on the 63rd anniversary of MLK’s “I have a Dream” speech ahead of the November election

San Francisco, CA -  As communities face increasing barriers to vote across the country, civil rights leaders are gathering to encourage people to come together, learn their rights, and exercise their voice and their vote. Voting is how we secure money, power, and respect for all working people and how we demand billionaires and large corporations pay their fair share. 

“The right to vote was fought for over generations and we must protect this right,” said SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford. “We will not back down in the face of increasing repression that seeks to take away all of our hard fought civil rights. We are gathering at San Francisco City Hall to defend our rights and recommit ourselves to seeking justice for all.”

The right to vote was a long, hard fought battle, for some of us in our lifetime. It wasn’t so long ago that the civil rights movement came to be, championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That is why we gather here on the front steps of city hall to call on you all to defend our vote on the 63rd anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” Speech. 

As we have seen from recent events, San Francisco is not immune from attempts by powerful forces to intimidate and scare our communities. Join SEIU Local 1021’s Social and Economic Justice Committee along with community partners and elected officials to stand united in protecting our democracy by DEFENDING OUR VOTE at a rally on the front steps of San Francisco City Hall.

“The Mississippi Summer Project, was met with unrelenting violence, 1,000 arrests, 35 shootings, 30 Bombed buildings, 35 burned churches, 80 beatings, and at least 6 murders. That’s what my ancestors had to endure for the right to vote,” said SEIU 1021 Social and Economic Justice Committee Chair Phelicia Jones. 

What: Rally to defend our vote, encourage voters to turn out

When: Thursday, Oct. 22 from noon – 2 p.m.

Where: Front steps of SF City Hall

Who: SEIU 1021 members, faith leaders, civil right attorneys, and SF Board Supervisors Shamann Walton & Stephen Sherrill, SF Public Defender Mano Raju, spoken word, dance performance.

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SEIU Local 1021 represents nearly 60,000 employees in local governments, nonprofit agencies, health care programs, courts, and schools throughout Northern California, including seven private colleges and numerous community colleges. SEIU Local 1021 is a diverse, member-driven organization with members who work to make our cities, schools, colleges, counties, and special districts safe and healthy places to live and raise our families.