Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Call to Action

 

January 20, 2025, will highlight a stark contrast between Donald Trump’s Project 2025 and Martin Luther King Jr.'s final message before his assassination. Project 2025, developed by the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation, advocates dismantling the so-called "deep state" by drastically cutting budgets for government agencies, including eliminating the Department of Education. It also proposes yet another massive tax break for billionaires and wealthy corporations.

In stark contrast, Dr. King’s 1967 book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? called for a progressive transformation of the American economy. He championed the abolition of poverty through the implementation of a guaranteed income. Dr. King observed, “For racism, poverty, and militarism to end, a new set of values must emerge. Our economy must prioritize human beings over property and profit.”

Dr. King warned of a dangerous agenda: “The segregationist aims to undo all reforms, reinstating blatant oppression or even a form of native fascism within our nation.” He further noted, “Individuals once dismissed as political novelties have become governors or narrowly missed election. Their success is achieved through a toxic blend of bigotry, prejudice, half-truths, and outright lies.”

Dr. King’s call to action resonates now more than ever: “Structures of evil do not crumble by passive waiting. If history teaches us anything, it is that evil is recalcitrant and determined, and never voluntarily relinquishes its hold short of an almost fanatical resistance. Evil must be attacked by a counteracting persistence—by the day-to-day assault of the battering rams of justice.”

-- Tom Connolly

Connecticut For All Coalition Presents 2025 Equity Agenda

 

Days after the legislative session began, nearly 200 people filled the Logislative Office Building with Connecticut For All coalition to present the 2025 Equity Agenda - a roadmap for Connecticut to lift up all of our community members. Lfocusing on different specific needs, they all emphasized the need to take down the roadblacks of fiscal austerity that are harming the people of Connecrticut despite a large budget surplus.

The coalition's recommendations include introducing fair tax structures that ask the wealthiest residents to contribute their fair share while expanding support for working families through targeted investments in education, affordable housing, and healthcare. The 2025 Equity Agenda builds on years of grassroots advocacy, with community, faith, and labor leaders at the forefront of this growing movement.

“Year after year we have returned to this building to do the work of the people. We return inside of a

rhetorical milieu of equity,” said State Senator Gary Winfield, “Because we continue to fail to make the necessary investments in the very programs that hit the root causes of inequity- housing, education, healthcare, public services those words serve only as platitudes with little if any meaning in the lives of the many who need them to be our call to action. We cannot continue to allow our upside down tax structure and irresponsible fiscal

policies dictate our investment decisions and the chance at a better Connecticut.”

“Our constituents elected us this past November to be their voice at the Capitol as we fight for the critical investments our communities need, investments that have been drastically underfunded for too long,” State Rep Jillan Gilchrest, of West Hartford emphasized. “The legislature has the power - and numbers - to make bold changes to our fiscal policies and tax system so that they work for all of Connecticut and move our economy forward in a positive growth direction,” she added.

“The Equity Agenda represents a roadmap to a better future for Connecticut - one where workers are valued and protected, where families have the keys they need to thrive, and where our state’s economic health is directly tied to the strength in our communities,” said Rob Baril, President of SEIU 1199, “For too long, working families have had to make difficult choices while our state siphons off billions and protects the ultra-wealthy and corporations from paying their fair share. It’s past time for our legislators to stand up and address the issues that we elected them to fix.”

“Despite undocumented immigrants contributing $406 million in annual contributions to state and localtaxes, most of us cannot see a doctor because of our status,” said Valentina Diaz, member of CTStudents for a Dream and HUSKY For Immigrants, “Connecticut residents should be seeing our taxdollars invested in the programs that support our communities, not paying an old debt at an irresponsible rate while watching our urgent needs multiply. How many more of us have to needlessly suffer from preventable illnesses and conditions until we see the modest investment we need?”

“The reality is, the low pay makes it hard to attract and retain staff. I often work 16-hour shifts because there simply isn’t enough staff,” said Meriam Robinson, LPN, a Nursing Home Worker at Trinity Health, “My coworkers and I are burned out, mentally and physically. I’ve gone from being someone who never struggled with depression to now relying on medication just to cope with the stress of this job. And yet, I advocate for my residents, ensuring they get the food, care, and resources they need, because if I don’tstand up for them, who will?”

“Despite dedicated educators, the limited resources, large caseloads, and insufficient training widened my son’s achievement gap while he attended New Haven Public Schools,” said Jennifer Graves, VP of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, Parent & Special Education Teacher, “Even though his school wanted him to succeed, they could not afford to do more. When we transferred to our home district inNorth Haven, he gained access to specialized programs and smaller classes that transformed his schoolexperience, displaying a stark disparity between two districts just 10 minutes apart. Zip codes must no longer determine educational opportunities.”

“When looming cuts to federal funding, and an over-reliance upon fiscal guardrails threaten our statebudget, one common-sense solution would represent a direct investment in our people – without a dollar being spent,” said Zach Postle, leader with the CT Tenant Union, “For over 40 years, Connecticut’s“Just Cause” law has prohibited no-fault evictions against renters who are 62 years or older, or have a disability, and live in a building with 5 or more units. The simple question is, why don’t we extend these protections to everyone?”

CT ACLU Organizes “Firewall of Freedom”

 

Concerned with the future of democratic rights in a second Trump term, 250 people filled the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme to solidify their resistance. The meeting was one of eight called by Connecticut ACLU to share Trump’s day-one plans and their “Firewall of Freedom.” response.

Trans and migrant communities will be the first targets. Specifically, Trump will likely use executive orders to roll back educational protections for trans gendered students. Over time, Trump and the MAGA majority in Congress will move to add conditions to federal dollars to states as a way to further curtail LGBTQ+ rights by labeling the LGBTQ+ community as “obscene,” along with mandates to force “patriotic” speech in schools.

The history of placing conditions on federal funds includes the example of encouraging states to raise the drinking age to 21 as a condition of getting federal money for roads.

Accepting conditions on federal funding is not a requirement. States can choose to reject MAGA dictates and fund their programs directly to the extent possible. Participants in the meeting were urged to call on Governor Lamont to reject any federal dollars that contain MAGA conditions: and at the same time roll-back the fiscal “guardrails” that greatly limit state spending on peoples’ needs.

To carry out his threat of mass deportations, Trump may declare a state of emergency allowing the military and national guard to conduct violent and aggressive raids on migrant communities. ICE raids may become more common in Connecticut. The ACLU has been working closely with elected officials throughout the country and Connecticut to prepare for a Trump sham “national emergency.”

Efforts are also underway in the General Assembly to strengthen Connecticut’s privacy laws and remove unnecessary citizenship questions used by ICE and right-wing groups to target migrant communities. CT ACLU has prepared a Know Your Rights: Immigrants Rights pamphlet on what to do if your community is being raided by the federal government: available at: https://www.acluct.org/en/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

Endangering women's’ rights and the right of a woman to choose to have an abortion, extremist groups and large companies will likely be permitted to buy, sell, and share private medical data, violating the privacy of women’s healthcare decisions. In addition to pushing for stronger privacy laws, the CT ACLU has launched an Abortion Legal Hotline: 833-309-6301.

In preparation for the first 100 days Trump assault, participants were urged to get educated and organize.

Machinists and Food Service Workers Stand Strong

As the country braces for a second Trump term, workers across Connecticut are stepping up their organizing, demanding decent wages and conditions as corporate profits continue to skyrocket. Rallies by IAM and Unite Here this week are building solidarity, determination and hope.

IAM Local 700 and 1746 members rallied outside Pratt & Whitney in Middletown to protest recent furloughs of hundreds of workers in advance of contract negotiations.. Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of the profitable RTX Corporation, said they were “cost saving to remain competitive,” yet the company has $100 billion of back orders.

Joined by other unions and elected officials, the Machinists said the furloughs hurt their families and the local economy. A key issue in upcoming contract negotiations will be job security, ensuring work remains in Connecticut into the future. The IAM has called on Pratt & Whitney to stop moving production out of state to nonunion areas. In the1980s in Connecticut 38,000 people worked at Pratt & Whitney, down to 11,000 today, as the company invests millions out of state.

In New Haven, Unite Here 217 school cafeteria workers who have been without a contract since June, are picketing outside the Board of Education, and turning out at Board of Education meetings demanding a fair contract and a decent living. The cafeteria workers serve millions of meals to New Haven's children, but their wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living, leaving them pooer now then in 2020.

“We are fighting to ensure that every worker in New Haven has access to a good union job that provides economic security and dignity,” says Scott Marks, director of New Haven Rising.

Betty Alford who has served children at Truman School for 32 years said, “I love what I do. But I also love to be treated fairly. We deserve a decent contract. I help to raise my four grandchildren, and after inflation, I need a raise to pay my bills and put food on my table.”

For Pratt & Whitney workers and school cafeteria workers alike, their organizing is part of a rising movement of workers ready to do what it takes for the dignity of their work, pushing back against corporate greed and standing together for stronger protections and benefits.

Connecticut celebrates historic victory as WEP/GPO is repealed

Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service workers in Connecticut and across the country are celebrating after a historic vote by the Senate and bill signing by President Biden to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). After 40 years, this unjust policy— which stripped millions of public servants of their earned Social Security benefits—has finally been overturned.

“Together we made history,” said Connecticut Education Association (CEA) President Kate Dias during a press conference at the state capitol. “This monumental victory is a testament to the perseverance, determination, and strong union activism of teachers and public servants. The repeal of WEP and GPO ensures that educators and other public workers will receive the retirement benefits to which they are rightfully entitled. It’s a new day for fairness and justice.”

In Connecticut, repealing the WEP will affect over 22,000 and repealing the GPO will affect nearly 10,000 Social Security beneficiaries. It will be retroactive to 2024.

In a 76 to 20 vote, the U.S. Senate ended the injustice of WEP/GPO, with Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy standing alongside a bipartisan coalition of their colleagues. This follows last month’s overwhelming bipartisan House passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) by a margin of 327 to 75.

In a signing ceremony at the White House, President Biden was introduced by Bette Marafino, president of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans and chair of the Repeal WEP and GPO.National Taskforce that met regularly on zoom for four years, starting out with a few ARA chapters and blossoming into a committee of 70 from many public sector unions coast to coast..

Marafino recalled her grandmother's fear of ending up in the poor house just a couple of blocks away where she would bring fresh baked bread. It was Social Security that enabled her to live a dignified life.

Connecticut ARA, CEA and AFT Connecticut played a pivotal role in this victory, lobbying members of Congress, working with unions across the country, and participating in numerous actions, press conferences and conferences to get this bill passed.

Dias and DeLancey spoke of being at the national labor news conference where Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer dramatically committed to bring the bill to a vote. Connecticut members of the National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force watched the Senate vote virtually in the early hours.

Dias said, “This victory belongs to every teacher, every firefighter, every police officer, and every public servant who stood up and said, ‘Enough is enough.’ Together, we flooded Congress with over 130,000 emails from people in all 50 states. This victory proves the power of our union, the strength of our collective voice, and the possibility of achieving what once seemed impossible. Future generations of educators and public servants will benefit from our efforts, and that’s a legacy we can all be proud of.”

Speaking at the state capitol, Mary Moninger-Elia a retiree of AFT Connecticut, described her own experiences being denied $400 a month in earned benefits when she retired due to the WEP/GPO. “And then it became more devastatingly personal two years ago when my husband died, and though he had paid his Social Security for over 40 years, as his wife I got nothing,” she said.

“I believe that getting people out of their silos helped,” Moninger-Elia said, crediting Bette Marafino. “We started doing what we called the Hollywood Squares on Zoom meetings, where we would see one another, so we got to know one another that way, and we planned the strategies.“

Blumenthal and Congressman John Larson have previously introduced the Social Security 2100 Act, which in addition to repealing the WEP and GPO, would provide across-the-board benefits increase, improve the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), and guarantee long-term stability for the Social Security Fund by ending the cap on payments for the hightest earners.