The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) St. Louis Chapter is sponsoring its 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Award Banquet on Monday, January 15 at Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall, 2329 Chouteau Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with presentations at 6 p.m.
Awards will be presented to the following individuals for their contributions for social justice, human and labor rights in the tradition of Dr. King in the St. Louis metro area: Tory Russell, mission director of the International Black Freedom Alliance and St. Louis protest leader for racial and economic justice; Ashli Bolden, civic engagement director for Missouri Jobs with Justice; and Halbert Sullivan, founder and director of Fathers’ Support Center.
“The 2018 Dr. MLK Human Rights awardees are following in the footsteps of the first awardees in 1977: Betty Lee of Proud Magazine; Bennie Rogers, editor of The St. Louis American; and Carol Carper, news director of KKSS,” stated Jay Ozier, president of the St. Louis CBTU Chapter.
Cecil Roberts, international president of the United Mine Workers of America and a 6th-generation coal miner, will serve as keynote speaker.
“We have all been enriched by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., not because he had a dream of human equality based on social and economic justice, but because he had the audacity to oppose the rich and powerful to make the dream real,” stated Lew Moye, president emeritus of St. Louis CBTU Chapter.
“The poverty Dr. King opposed is still with us, and so is the racism, war and arrogance of the rich and powerful. Therefore, the best possible tribute we can pay to Dr. King is to continue in 2018 his fighting spirit for peace, justice, jobs and equality.”
January 15, 2018 will mark the 33rd observation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday as a National Holiday. The St. Louis CBTU Chapter tradition predates the holiday by 7 years.
For ticket information, contact Lew Moye at lewcbtu@aol.com or 314-495- 5635.
