Over half a century ago, the murder of another black man sparked national outrage. Martin Luther King had come to Memphis to take part in a strike for the rights of low-paid public service workers.

In his last public address, King said “let us keep the issues where they are. The issue is injustice.”

It is tragic to see that the same injustice, hatred and bigotry that killed King still infects so many levels of institutional power in the United States today.

There can be no peace while working people are deprived of the fruits of the labour.

The intersection between racial injustice and economic injustice is clear: there can be no peace while institutional racism is allowed to thrive.

There can be no peace while working people are deprived of the fruits of the labour.

From the poisoned waters of Flint to the homes of over 25 million Americans who do not have health insurance, what’s clear is that addressing racial and economic inequality requires bold and radical change.

Our global movement draws its strength from its diversity. We stand against all forms of racism, oppression, and xenophobia wherever they rear their ugly head.

We congratulate the United States union movement for their forthright and fierce criticism of this latest murder and for holding your president to account for his reckless and irresponsible response.

We stand with People of Colour whose socio-economic status is exacerbating their exposure to the Covid-19 crisis.

We stand for the rights of all workers to a workplace free of racism and hate-based violence.

We stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and with all minorities who are resisting racist oppression.

On behalf of all our affiliated unions around the world, we thank you for your leadership on this issue and stand ready to assist you in the fight to end systemic racism in any way we can. As King said, “we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end.”

In solidarity,

Rosa Pavanelli
PSI General Secretary