Inaugural Parade Marchers Display Diversity and Strength of America’s Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/01/20/inaugural-parade-marchers-display-diversity-and-strength-of-america%E2%80%99s-workers/

by James Parks, Jan 20, 2009

For Maria Somma, it is a dream come true. The native of Vietnam and naturalized citizen is one of the 265 union members who braved freezing temperatures today to join representatives from across the country and our armed forces to participate in the official inaugural parade for President Obama. The contingent of union members taking part in the parade include members from the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and the National Education Association.

With 15 union members riding a union-made float and 250 marchers alongside, the workers’ contingent was one of the largest groups in the parade. This is the first time in recent memory that workers have participated in the parade.

Somma, who lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., rode the float representing the AFL-CIO constituency group Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). She says labor’s participation shows the power of the American Dream for all people.

It’s very exciting to be welcoming a person of color into the White House and to be a part of history. Even if it was minus 20, I would be glad to be here. This is an incredible achievement for this country. For Barack Obama to come from his background and rise to the top is not the typical American story. His inauguration is part of the transition of this nation to fully embrace all its citizens.

Marching with a banner, “America’s Workers: United for Change,” participants also carried flags that represent the issues most important to working families: an Economy that Works for All, Great Public Schools, Good Jobs Green Jobs and Health Care for All. The overall theme of the labor float is “Honoring America’s Workers.”

Riding on the float and representing the Alliance for Retired Americans has a special significance for Jimmy Allen of Bowie, Md. The retired member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), who is African American, says he’s seen a lot in his life, but

when it comes to an African American being president, I said I wouldn’t believe it until it happened. Now I can tell my grandchild that she can grow up and be president of the United States and mean it.

FULL story at link.